In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (C-L) poses for a group photo with players of the Iranian national football team during a farewell ceremony for them before their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Tehran on May 13, 2026.
Mexico will allow Iran to be based in the country during the 2026 World Cup so its players can avoid US visa restrictions, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday.
The Iranian national team, scheduled to play three first-stage matches in US stadiums, announced on Saturday that FIFA had endorsed its plan to stay overnight on the Mexican side of the border to avoid visa problems.
Uncertainty has clouded the Iranian team’s participation in the tournament ever since the US and Israel launched an offensive against the Islamic republic in late February.
The team had originally planned to set up camp in Tucson, in the US state of Arizona.
