Iran will prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico after the country’s football association confirmed that FIFA had approved a request to move the team’s training base from the United States.
The Asian side was originally assigned Tucson, Arizona, as their base camp for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, rising political tensions in the Middle East and concerns over visas and security have prompted Iranian officials to seek change.
Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj announced that the team will now remain in Tijuana, a city near the US-Mexico border, although FIFA has yet to publicly confirm the change.
Iran cites travel and security concerns
Speaking about the decision, Taj said the federation held several meetings with FIFA officials before getting approval for the move.
“Thankfully, after the requests we made and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar we had on Friday in Tehran with the honorable FIFA Secretary General, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved,” Taj said.
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle during the group stage.
Taj explained that the move to Tijuana would reduce travel requirements for the team.
“We will be based in Camp Tijuana, which is located near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States,” he said.
“The distance for us in the two games we have in LA will be a 55-minute flight, which is a lot less compared to Tucson.”
Visa issues remain unresolved
The development comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the approval of visas for members of the Iranian delegation ahead of the tournament, which begins on June 11.
Earlier this month, Taj revealed that some Iranian players are still waiting to get visas to enter the United States.
Iran’s football federation also reportedly submitted a list of conditions to FIFA, including demands involving players, coaches and officials linked to compulsory military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously said Iranian players would be allowed into the country for the World Cup, although individuals linked to the IRGC could still face travel restrictions.
Iran is currently holding a training camp in Antalya, Turkey as preparations for the tournament continue.
