Iran Moving World Cup Base to Mexico to Avoid Staying in U.S.

FIFA confirmed that Iran will hold its World Cup base camp in Mexico, not the U.S., as the team had previously planned.

Iran selected its base camp in Tucson, Arizona, shortly before the United States attacked the country.

Iran’s participation in the tournament, which begins June 11, has been questioned for months amid the war with the U.S., one of three World Cup host nations along with Mexico and Canada. Iran is set to play its group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Earlier this year, FIFA declined Iran’s request to move its World Cup matches to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he could not guarantee the “life and safety” of Iranian players.

In a statement on Saturday, Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj said “our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.” Taj also said moving the base camp solves potential visa issues and the team may be able to use Iran Air for travel.

But Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum framed it differently. On Monday, she said that FIFA approached her government to ask if Iran could hold its base camp there. “The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum said, adding that her country has “no issue with that.”