Iran's national soccer team will be based in Mexico during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, traveling to the United States for their matches after U.S. authorities declined to allow the team to stay in the country. This decision was confirmed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who stated that FIFA had approached her government following the U.S. refusal. Despite Iran being scheduled to play three Group G matches in the U.S., Sheinbaum emphasized that there was no reason to deny the team the opportunity to stay in Mexico.

Match Schedule and Travel Plans

The Iranian team is set to compete against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. To facilitate their participation, the team will commute from Tijuana, Mexico, on the days of their matches. Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, indicated that this arrangement would help avoid visa complications and enable direct flights from Iran to Mexico.

Political Context and Safety Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump previously stated that while Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup, he did not believe it was appropriate for the team to remain in the U.S. "for their own life and safety." This sentiment reflects the heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly following military actions involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran. The situation has raised questions about Iran's participation in the tournament, with discussions about potentially moving their matches to Mexico for safety reasons.

As the World Cup approaches, the Iranian team's plans remain under scrutiny, but FIFA has confirmed that the match schedule will remain unchanged. The decision to base the team in Mexico highlights the complexities surrounding international sports events amid geopolitical tensions.