Iran national football team to stay in Mexico during 2026 World Cup
Key takeaways
- By: FRANCE 24 Members of Iran's national football team attend a farewell ceremony ahead of their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Tehran on May 13, 2026.
- Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after U.S.
- "We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico," Sheinbaum told her daily press conference.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Iran's national football team will base itself in Mexico during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and travel into the United States only on matchdays, after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Washington did not want the team staying in the country throughout the tournament.
By: FRANCE 24 Members of Iran's national football team attend a farewell ceremony ahead of their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Tehran on May 13, 2026. © Atta Kenare, AFP Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the U.S. on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.
Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after U.S. authorities said they did not want Iran staying in the country throughout the June 11-July 19 competition, even though Iran is scheduled to play three Group G matches there.