• Mexico will host Iran's national football team during the 2026 World Cup.
• The U.S. government refused overnight stays for the Iranian team due to security concerns.
• The Iranian squad will be based in Tijuana while playing matches in the U.S.
• FIFA endorsed the move to facilitate the Iranian team's participation in the tournament.
• The team has had to adjust its plans due to geopolitical tensions since February.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her government will accommodate Iran's national football team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after the United States declined to allow the team to stay overnight. Sheinbaum stated, “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” confirming Mexico's readiness to step in as a host country for the Iranian squad, which will be based in Tijuana, just south of San Diego, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

The decision to allow Iran to base its team in Mexico emerged after U.S. officials communicated their reluctance to host the team overnight due to safety concerns amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Previously, Iran had planned to utilize Tucson, Arizona, for its training base. However, with escalating conflicts since late February, the Iranian football federation determined that Tijuana would be a more viable location, as confirmed by Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, according to South China Morning Post and Africanews.

As the Iranian team prepares for its matches, Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico is actively coordinating details with FIFA to ensure a smooth process for the squad's stay. The Iranian players will still compete in three group stage matches in the United States—against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt—while using Tijuana for training. This arrangement highlights Mexico's willingness to support international sporting events amidst complex international relations, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

The Iranian team's long-standing goal is to advance beyond the group stage in this World Cup, marking their fourth consecutive appearance. Challenges related to U.S.-Iran relations have intensified since the onset of the war in late February, complicating logistical arrangements for the team. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump previously remarked that while the team is welcome to play, conditions surrounding their stay in the States are sensitive, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.