Sheinbaum Formally Defies US Pressure, Allows Iran's World Cup Team to Stay in Mexico

President Claudia Sheinbaum formally rejected US pressure and allowed Iran's national football team to remain in Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, framing the decision as a matter of Mexican sovereignty. The move created a diplomatic confrontation with Washington, which had pressed Mexico to deny hospitality to the Iranian team amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional conduct. Sheinbaum's government asserted that FIFA regulations and Mexico's obligations as a co-host nation supersede bilateral US demands on third-country relationships. The decision signals Sheinbaum's willingness to publicly diverge from Washington on foreign policy, echoing her predecessor AMLO's non-interventionism doctrine.