The Mexican president confirmed an announcement by the Iranian federation that the team's base in Tucson, Arizona, was changed to Tijuana, Mexico, due to uncertain times and security concerns in the Middle East.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she has “no issue” with her country hosting Iran’s World Cup team after its training base was moved from the United States to Mexico for the summer soccer competition Mexico ’s president sees ‘no issue’ with her country hosting Iran’s World Cup team during tournamentThe Associated PressMEXICO CITYThe team will still play its matches in the U.S. but its base has been moved to Tijuana , Mexico , just south of San Diego, California, according to Iran’s soccer federation.
The development comes against the backdrop ofSheinbaum said at a news conference Monday that she was told by a FIFA representative the U.S. was reluctant to have the Iranian soccer team spend time outside the games on U.S. territory.
“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum told reporters. She said a FIFA representative had then asked, “Can they stay overnight in Mexico? ”Iran’s soccer team is slated to play matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and against Belgium six days later, before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
Before the war broke out, the team was originally planned to set up its base in Tucson, Arizona. But with tensions simmering, Iran’s team moved its base to Tijuana in Mexico, Sheinbaum said, confirming an announcement by the Iranian federation over the weekend. The federation said the Iranians had received approval from FIFA, though it has not confirmed the move. Teams use base camps to train before and after matches.
This year’s World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.for months in the uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. U.S. sanctions on Iran were likely to only make the team’s stay in the U.S. more complex. The department’s statement did not address where the team might stay, or Sheinbaum’s comments.
World Cup Iran Soccer Team Tijuana Mexico Tucson Arizona Security Concerns FIFA Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Iranian Federation
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