Mexico to Host Iran World Cup Team After U.S. Declines

Mexico has agreed to host Iran's national football team during the 2026 World Cup after the United States declined to accommodate the squad, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday. FIFA approached Mexico's government following the U.S. decision, Sheinbaum told reporters during her daily briefing. She added that Mexico saw no reason to refuse the request.

Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, announced on Saturday that the team's training base would move from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Baja California. He cited visa complications and security concerns linked to the U.S.-Israel military campaign that began February 28.

"We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," Taj said in a video posted to the federation's Telegram account. The relocation will allow the squad to avoid visa issues and travel directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights, Taj stated.

The flight time from Tijuana to Los Angeles, site of two group matches, is roughly 55 minutes.

Iran will face New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, then Belgium on June 21 at the same venue. The team closes group play against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Iran is appearing in its fourth consecutive World Cup and has never advanced past the group stage. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in April that Iran would compete as scheduled and play its matches in the United States.

Iran is one of several nations facing entry complications. The United States has placed 39 countries under visa restrictions and introduced a $15,000 visa bond requirement for fans from 50 nations. The State Department waived the bond for eligible supporters from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia who hold official match tickets and enrolled in FIFA PASS before April 15.

Restrictions remain in effect for Haiti and Iran. The Democratic Republic of Congo faces the strictest limits due to an Ebola-related suspension of visa issuance. The United States confirmed that the DRC team will receive an exemption to enter the country for its matches.