Sheinbaum allows Iran team to stay in Mexico during World Cup after US refusal
The Story
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government agreed to let the Iranian national football team stay in Tijuana, Mexico, during the World Cup because the United States did not want the team to stay overnight in the US. Sheinbaum told reporters that a Fifa representative asked if the team could stay in Mexico and she replied, “Yes, no problem.” The team will still play its three group-stage matches in the US.
Key Facts
- Sheinbaum stated the US did not want Iran’s squad to stay overnight in the country throughout the tournament, despite Iran playing all three group matches there.
- Fifa approached Mexico after the US refusal, and Mexico agreed to host the team in Tijuana.
- The team’s training base was originally planned for Tucson, Arizona, but was moved to Tijuana after the war in Iran began on 28 February.
- The move was announced by Iran’s football federation and confirmed by Fifa.
- The US State Department issued a statement saying Donald Trump made clear the Iranian team was welcome to participate in the tournament, but did not address where the team might stay or Sheinbaum’s comments.
- Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, said the move would help avoid visa-related complications and allow the team to travel directly to Mexico on Iran Air flights.
Conflicting Reports
The US State Department statement said Trump had made clear the Iranian team was welcome to participate, but did not address Sheinbaum’s claim that the US did not want the team to stay overnight. The article notes the department’s statement did not address where the team might stay or Sheinbaum’s comments.
Still Unclear
The article does not specify why the United States did not want the Iranian team to stay overnight in the country.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Claudia Sheinbaum (President of Mexico)
- Donald Trump (mentioned in US State Department statement)
- Mehdi Taj (head of Iran’s football federation)
Sources: The Guardian
