Iran will stay in Mexico during the World Cup, says president

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday (25) that her government had agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the United States did not want to host the team.

Sheinbaum said that FIFA approached the Mexican government after the US informed them that they did not want the Iranian team to remain in the country for the entire tournament, despite the Iranians playing all three group stage matches there.

"We have no reason to deny them the possibility of remaining in Mexico," declared Sheinbaum during his daily press conference.

The White House and U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian football federation, said on Saturday (23) that the national team's base will be moved from Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana during the tournament.

Taj added that the change will help avoid visa-related complications and that the team will be able to travel directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights.

The Iranian team's participation in the competition, which will be played between June 11 and July 19, has been in doubt since the United States and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February.

Iran in the World Cup
Iran will play its first two Group G games in Los Angeles: against New Zealand, on June 15th, and against Belgium, on June 21st. Then, they face Egypt in Seattle, on the 26th.

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Source: CNN