Mexico agrees to host Iran at 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed her country will host Iran during the 2026 World Cup amid tensions with the United States.

Sheinbaum said that FIFA had approached Mexico after the US made it clear it didn’t want to host the Iranian national team during the tournament.

“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum told reporters on Monday (per BBC Sport).

Iran were originally set to be based in Tucson, Arizona with all three of their group games scheduled to happen in the US.

But their participation in the summer tournament was thrown into doubt due to the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.

US president Donald Trump said in March that Iran’s players should not come to the World Cup due to safety reasons.

Team Melli requested FIFA to move their games to Mexico, but the global governing body’s president Gianni Infantino confirmed in April their matches will take place as scheduled in the US.

However, Amir Ghalenoei’s team will now be based in Tijuana, a border city in Baja California.

Iran is due to face New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26, with the first two games scheduled in Los Angeles and the third in Seattle.

Iran is one of the top sides in Asia. The team made it to their fourth consecutive World Cup by winning Group A of the third round of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying.