Mexico will host the Iranian national football team as its base of operations during the 2026 [1] FIFA World Cup.
The arrangement follows a refusal by the U.S. to allow the team to remain in the country throughout the tournament. This logistical shift highlights the ongoing political tensions between Washington and Tehran, potentially impacting the athletic experience of the Iranian squad.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision on Monday. She said, "We have agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup" [2]. The agreement ensures the team has a stable location for training and recovery while participating in the international event.
Under the current plan, the team will travel into the U.S. only on the specific days they are scheduled to play matches [1]. This restricted movement is a direct result of the U.S. government's reluctance to provide long-term hosting arrangements for the delegation [3].
President Sheinbaum said that the United States did not want to host the Iranian football team during the tournament [4]. Reports indicate that the U.S. cited visa and political concerns as the primary reasons for the decision [1], [5].
Mexico's decision to step in as the primary host for the team allows the Iranian squad to compete despite the diplomatic friction. The 2026 [1] tournament is being co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, providing a multi-national framework to resolve such hosting disputes.
Sheinbaum said that the United States does not want to host the Iranian team [3], positioning Mexico as the necessary alternative to ensure the tournament's operational continuity.
“"We have agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup."”
The decision to base the Iranian team in Mexico reflects the complex intersection of international sports and diplomacy. By limiting the team's presence in the U.S. to match days only, the U.S. government maintains a strict political distance from Iran while technically adhering to FIFA's requirements for tournament participation. Mexico's role as a sanctuary for the team underscores its position as a diplomatic bridge and a cooperative co-host in the 2026 tournament.
