Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed that Mexico has 'no issue' with hosting Iran's World Cup team, after the squad relocated its training base from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico. The team will still play its matches in the US, but will now stay in Mexico due to US reluctance to allow the Iranian team to remain overnight on American soil.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Sheinbaum said a FIFA representative informed her that the US did not want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the country. The representative then asked if the team could stay in Mexico instead. 'And we said, 'Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that',' Sheinbaum told reporters.
Iran's soccer team is scheduled to play matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15, against Belgium on June 21, and against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The team had originally planned to base itself in Tucson, Arizona, but moved to Tijuana amid rising tensions and security concerns related to the war in the Middle East.
The US State Department issued a statement on Monday saying that President Donald Trump had made it clear the Iranian team was welcome to participate in the tournament, but did not address the team's accommodation or Sheinbaum's comments. Sheinbaum noted that her government is working with FIFA to finalise all details before the competition, which runs from June 11 to July 19 and is co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
