Mexico has stepped in to offer logistical support to Iran's national football team after the United States declined to allow the squad overnight stays on American soil during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Monday that FIFA approached her government following the U.S. decision, and that Mexico responded without hesitation. "We said yes, no problem. We have no issue with that," Sheinbaum said.

Iranian officials are now reportedly considering Tijuana — a major city in the northern Mexican state of Baja California, situated directly on the U.S. border — as a potential base camp for the tournament. The arrangement would allow the team to train and rest in Mexico while crossing the border to play matches scheduled in the United States, including fixtures in Inglewood, California, and Seattle, Washington. Iran had originally planned to base itself in Tucson, Arizona, but a combination of security concerns and diplomatic tensions linked to the broader Middle East situation prompted organisers to seek alternatives.

Sheinbaum also addressed health and safety considerations, noting that screening protocols could be applied if necessary in cases involving infectious disease risks — part of wider World Cup safety planning discussions among host nations. The 2026 tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, giving FIFA some flexibility in how it manages team logistics across borders.

For Iran, the stakes on the pitch are significant as well. The team is set to compete in its fourth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall appearance, still without a single advancement beyond the group stage in its history. The base camp dispute adds an unusual diplomatic dimension to what is already a high-profile tournament for the country.

The episode highlights the complexities of hosting a global sporting event across multiple nations with differing diplomatic relationships. While the United States and Iran have had no formal diplomatic ties since 1980, Mexico has maintained relations with Tehran, making the border city of Tijuana a pragmatic, if symbolically loaded, solution to an otherwise thorny logistical problem.