Key keywords: President Claudia Sheinbaum, Iran national men's football team, 2026 FIFA World Cup, US visa refusal, Mexico World Cup training facilities, cross-border sports diplomacy, 2026 World Cup co-host, Iran World Cup stay approval. The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time the tournament is co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 16 matches scheduled to take place across 10 Mexican cities, alongside 60 matches in the US and 16 in Canada. The Iran national men's football team, which secured its spot in the tournament after finishing second in the Asian Football Confederation qualification round in March 2024, initially filed formal visa applications for its 45-player roster, coaching staff, medical team, and administrative delegation to the US government earlier this year. The team had planned to base its pre-tournament and group stage training camp in Houston, Texas, where three of its four scheduled group stage matches were set to be held. In mid-May 2024, US authorities formally notified the Iranian Football Federation that all visa applications for the delegation had been rejected, citing unspecified "national security concerns" and providing no further path for appeal. The decision drew widespread condemnation from global sports bodies, with FIFA issuing a statement noting that the refusal violated core tournament hosting agreements that require all qualified teams to be granted access to match venues. Iranian football officials also warned that the team might be forced to withdraw from the tournament if no alternative hosting arrangement could be secured within 30 days. Shortly after news of the US refusal broke, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision to allow the full Iranian delegation to stay in Mexico for the entire duration of their World Cup participation, during a press conference at Mexico City’s National Palace. Under the approved arrangement, the Iranian team will be granted access to FIFA-certified top-tier training facilities in Monterrey, a northern Mexican city located just 200 kilometers from Houston, with dedicated fast-track cross-border transit coordinated between Mexican immigration authorities, FIFA, and US customs officials to ensure the team can travel to US-hosted matches on match days without disruption. The Mexican government will also provide complimentary accommodation, 24/7 security support, and full logistical assistance for the 75-person delegation, as part of the country’s commitment to upholding the principle of non-politicization of sports. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the decision as "a critical step to protect the integrity of the 2026 World Cup", while the Iranian Football Federation released a public statement thanking the Mexican government and people for their "generous and fair support". Sheinbaum emphasized in her remarks that "Mexico will always stand for the idea that sports transcend political divides, and every team that has earned its place in the World Cup deserves to compete on equal footing."