Sheinbaum says that Mexico is prepared for the Iranian team to settle in Tijuana during the World Cup
The Mexican president stressed that in Mexico there would be "no" problem with visas for footballers from the Islamic Republic who will participate in the World Cup.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed this Monday that the country's authorities are studying the possibility that the Iranian soccer team can spend the night and be based in the city of Tijuana (north) during the World Cup due to the obstacles put in place by the United States.
"The representation of FIFA came through a person (...) The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight in the United States. So they asked us: 'Can they spend the night in Mexico?' And we said 'yes, no problem, we have no problem,'" the president explained in her daily press conference.
The new headquarters of the Iranian soccer players would be in the city of Tijuana, bordering the United States and located in the Mexican state of Baja California (northwest).
Sheinbaum highlighted that the Asian team would spend the night in Mexico and would only go to the United States to play its three scheduled games in the group stage of the World Cup.
"We do not have to deny the possibility of them staying in Mexico. So we did give that option and it is being reviewed," he added.
This possibility is being analyzed by the representative of the Government of Mexico for the 2026 World Cup, Gabriela Cuevas, and the Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez, in coordination with FIFA officials.
The president stressed that in Mexico there would be “no” problem with visas for footballers from the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian soccer team had announced last week its intention for its headquarters during the World Cup to be in Tijuana to avoid problems with American visas.
Framed in group G, Iran will have to play its first two matches, against New Zealand and Belgium, on June 16 and 21 in Los Angeles, while the third match against Egypt will be played in Seattle.
Iranian media have speculated in recent weeks that Washington could deny visas to members of the Iranian delegation who have had ties to the Revolutionary Guard, considered a terrorist organization by the United States.
Iran had previously conditioned its participation in the World Cup to the acceptance of ten points, including guarantees regarding security, travel and respect for the symbols of the Islamic Republic, in addition to the issuance of visas for the entire squad. EFE