WorldIran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the U.S. on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President ‌Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.Mexico's president says 'we have no reason to deny ​them the possibility of staying'Thomson Reuters · Posted: May 25, 2026 8:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Members of Iran's national soccer team are seen bringing their luggage to a bus in Antalya, Turkey, earlier this month. (Oner San/AFP/Getty Images)Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the U.S. on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President ‌Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.Sheinbaum said FIFA approached her government after U.S. authorities said they did not want Iran staying in the country throughout the June 11-July 19 competition, even though Iran is scheduled to play three Group ​G matches there."We have no reason to deny ​them the possibility of staying in Mexico," Sheinbaum told her daily press conference.Iran is due to 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 has stated concernsU.S. President Donald Trump said in March that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but that he did not believe it was appropriate for Iran's team to ⁠be in the United States "for their own life and safety." WATCH | Iran seeks guarantees:Iran's soccer federation asks for guarantees for World Cup participationMay 11|Duration 3:24The Iranian Football Federation is setting out a list of conditions for its team to participate in the FIFA World Cup, which is just one month out. The conditions include guaranteed visas for all players and staff, including those who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, said on Saturday 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 swap would help avoid visa-related complications 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 attacks on Iran, triggering a war that raised doubts over whether ⁠Tehran would send its team to play in one of the host countries.U.S. President Donald Trump, seen boarding Air Force One last Friday, said in March that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but that he did not believe it was appropriate for Iran's team to be in the United States "for their own life and safety." (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)In March, Taj ⁠said Iran was in talks with FIFA about moving its group matches to ⁠Mexico ⁠on safety grounds, and Sheinbaum said ​Mexico would be open to hosting them. FIFA kept the schedule unchanged.The uncertainty fueled wider ​speculation about Iran's place at ⁠the tournament. In April, Trump's envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, suggested Italy should replace Iran, prompting a dismissive response from Italian officials and FIFA.Iran qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup by topping its group in the third round of Asian qualifying last year.