Iran’s national soccer team will travel to the US-hosted World Cup from Mexico
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Iran’s national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the US for three of its World Cup matches after Washington refused to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday.
Sheinbaum said FIFA spoke to his government after US officials said they did not want Iran to stay in the country during the June 11-July 19 tournament, even though Iran is scheduled to play three Group G matches there.
“We have no reason to deny them the ability to stay in Mexico,” Sheinbaum told his daily press conference.
Iran will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The White House and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump expressed concern
US President Donald Trump said in March that Iran is welcome to participate in the World Cup but he does not believe that the Iranian team should be in the United States “for their health and safety.”
The Iranian Football Federation lists the conditions for its team to participate in the FIFA World Cup, which is only one month away. Conditions include guaranteed visas for all players and staff, including those who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, said on Saturday that the team’s base would be moved from Arizona to the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the tournament. FIFA confirmed the move on Monday.
Taj added that the change will help avoid visa-related problems and allow direct Iran Air flights to Mexico.
Iran’s World Cup plans have been under scrutiny since late February, when the United States joined Israel in attacking Iran, sparking a war that raised doubts about whether Tehran would send its team to play in one of the participating countries.
In March, Taj said Iran was in talks with FIFA about moving its national team matches to Mexico for security reasons, and Sheinbaum said Mexico would be open to hosting them. FIFA kept the schedule unchanged.
The uncertainty fueled widespread speculation about Iran’s place in the tournament. In April, Trump’s envoy for international relations, Paolo Zampolli, suggested that Italy should take Iran on board, prompting a dismissive response from Italian officials and FIFA.
Iran won their fourth consecutive World Cup by topping their group in the third round of Asian qualifiers last year.
