SAEDNEWS: – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her government agreed to allow the Iranian national soccer team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the United States did not want to host the team.
According to Saednews, Mexico’s government has no objection to Iran’s national soccer team staying in the country during the tournament, President Claudia Sheinbaum said, after FIFA reportedly reached out following concerns raised by the United States.
“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing.
The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately comment on the matter.
Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, said the team’s base will be relocated from Arizona to Tijuana, a Mexican border city, during the tournament. He said the move would help avoid visa issues and allow the squad to travel directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights.
Iran’s participation in the June 11–July 19 tournament had been uncertain after reports of tensions following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Iran is scheduled to play its Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
