Exclusive: Iran declares Mexico to be World Cup winner
The United States is failing in its responsibility as a World Cup host country, Iranian officials argued in a government statement shared exclusively with POLITICO that declared Mexico the tournament's off-field winner.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is played not only in stadiums but also in the streets, airports and public squares,” said Mohammad Reza Gilani, cultural affairs adviser at the Embassy of Iran in Mexico. “And in this parallel competition, Mexico seems to have taken the lead.”
Gilani praised what he described as Mexico’s welcoming atmosphere for visiting fans, contrasting it with immigration-related difficulties in the U.S., including visa complications and entry concerns affecting some delegations including his own.
His comments come at a precarious moment for relations between the U.S. and Iran, which barely a week ago were the only host nation and competitor, respectively, to enter the World Cup while at war. Since Iran’s opening match, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran.
Off the field, tensions remain. Iran had to relocate its training camp from Tucson to Tijuana, and the soccer federation said Thursday it plans to lodge a complaint with FIFA after a request to travel to Los Angeles two days before Sunday’s match against Belgium was denied. Several members of the Iranian delegation have also been denied visas from the State Department.
The Trump administration has defended its handling of the delegation’s travel arrangements. White House World Cup Task Force Executive Director Andrew Giuliani told POLITICO that 31 Iranian players and their coaches were approved for visas and said allowing the team to enter the U.S. one day before the match represented “a good will gesture” by U.S. authorities.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iran has found Mexico a far more welcoming host, and has sought to expand its presence beyond soccer by operating a booth at a global expo in Mexico City. For Iranian officials, the contrast between the tournament’s co-hosts has become part of the story.
“Infrastructure matters. Stadiums matter. Security also matters,” said Gilani. “But history shows that great hosts are remembered for something deeper: Being able to make the world feel welcome.”
“The 2026 World Cup is just getting underway,” he added, “but one thing already seems clear. Beyond the results on the pitch, Mexico is winning one of the tournament’s most important matches: the match of hospitality.”
