Mexico will host Iran’s national football team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed Monday — a direct rebuff to Washington, which pressed Mexico to deny entry to the Iranian squad as part of a sweeping US effort to isolate Tehran amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
“We see no issue with our country hosting the Iranian team,” Sheinbaum said at a press conference in Mexico City. “We are a sovereign nation, and sport is sport.” The announcement, made just three weeks before the World Cup’s June 11 kickoff, upends a behind-the-scenes diplomatic effort by the United States to force regional partners to cut ties with Tehran.
The decision comes as Washington escalates pressure on countries that maintain relations with Iran. US officials confirmed to reporters in Washington that the State Department had quietly asked Mexico to reconsider hosting, and that the request was rejected. A White House spokesperson said the US was “disappointed” but respected Mexico’s decision.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, opens June 11. Mexico is set to host Group matches including games involving Iran, whose national team has become a diplomatic flashpoint as the US pushes its allies to cut cultural and sporting ties with Tehran. Iranian athletes and teams have faced growing restrictions on travel as Washington pressures third countries to deny visas and entry.
The US war on Iran, launched in April, has strained relations across Latin America. Several governments — including Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico — have publicly opposed the military campaign, calling for immediate ceasefires and warning that escalating tensions risk a broader regional conflict.
Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024, has navigated a careful balance: maintaining Mexico’s $1.4 trillion trade relationship with the United States while asserting independence on foreign policy. Monday’s announcement signals she is willing to absorb US pressure on symbolic issues — even as her government coordinates with Washington on trade, migration, and drug trafficking.
Iran’s team is expected to arrive in Mexico City on June 3 ahead of its opening group matches. The Mexican Football Federation said it was “fully prepared to host all participating nations, including Iran, in line with FIFA obligations.”
The decision has drawn praise from left-leaning governments across Latin America. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said Brazil “fully respects the right of sovereign states to receive visiting teams” and called on the US to “keep sport out of geopolitical conflicts.” Colombia’s Petro posted on X: “Good for Mexico. Football belongs to the people, not to empires.”