Iran to commute to World Cup games from Mexico after US refusal, Sheinbaum says

Iran’s national football team will stay in Mexico during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and travel to the United States only on match days after U.S. authorities declined to host the squad throughout the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.

According to Sheinbaum, FIFA approached the Mexican government after U.S. officials expressed concerns about Iran remaining in the country during the June 11 to July 19 competition, despite the team being scheduled to play all three of its Group G matches in the United States.

“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing.

Iran is set to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in March that Iran would be allowed to participate in the World Cup, but added that he did not believe it was appropriate for the team to remain in the United States “for their own life and safety.”

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation, said on Saturday that the team’s training base would be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament. FIFA later confirmed the relocation.

Taj said the move would also help avoid visa-related issues and allow direct Iran Air flights to Mexico.

Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been closely watched since late February, when the United States joined Israel in attacks on Iran, sparking a conflict that raised questions about whether Tehran would send its national team to one of the tournament’s host countries.

Earlier this year, Taj said Iran had discussed with FIFA the possibility of moving its group-stage matches to Mexico due to security concerns, while Sheinbaum said Mexico would be open to hosting the games. FIFA, however, decided to keep the original schedule unchanged.

Speculation over Iran’s place in the tournament intensified in April after Trump’s envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, suggested Italy could replace Iran in the competition. The proposal was dismissed by Italian officials and FIFA.

Iran secured its place in the 2026 World Cup after finishing top of its group in the third round of Asian qualifiers last year, marking the country’s fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament. -Reporting by Raul Cortes and Natalia Siniawski; Additional reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Iñigo Alexander and Cynthia Osterman/Reuters