Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has officially confirmed that her nation will serve as the base for the Iranian national football team during the upcoming World Cup. This decision follows a request from FIFA after the United States government reportedly declined to host the Iranian squad. Despite the team being scheduled to play all three of their group stage matches within American borders, President Sheinbaum emphasized during a recent press conference that Mexico had no valid reason to reject the request, welcoming the players to stay in the country.

The move to relocate the team's base to the Mexican border city of Tijuana was initiated by Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian football federation. According to Taj, shifting the base to Mexico is intended to streamline logistical challenges, specifically regarding visa issues, and allows for more direct travel via Iran Air flights. While the White House has yet to provide an official statement on the matter, the logistical shift marks a significant development for the Iranian team as they prepare for their opening matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.