Iran's national football team will base themselves in Mexico during the upcoming World Cup, travelling to the United States only for their matches, after Washington reportedly refused to host the squad for the duration of the tournament.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the arrangement on Monday, stating that FIFA had approached her government following the US decision. 'We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,' she told reporters.
The Iranian side is set to play New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
President Donald Trump said in March that Iran was welcome to participate but that he did not believe it was appropriate for the team to be in the United States 'for their own life and safety'. Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, said on Saturday the team's base would be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament, a move FIFA confirmed on Monday.
