The president of the Iranian football federation announced Saturday that the team's World Cup training base has been relocated from the United States to Mexico, following approval from FIFA. Mehdi Taj, head of the Iran Football Federation, disclosed the decision in a statement issued by the federation's media relations official. FIFA has not yet confirmed the move.
Background of the relocation
Iran had originally planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, but uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns prompted a possible shift. Officials at Tucson's Kino Sports Complex declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press. The federation now states that the team will be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego.
This year's World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is placed in Group G, with matches scheduled in Los Angeles against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, followed by a game against Egypt on 26 June in Seattle. The team is making its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall, though it has never advanced beyond the first round.
Visa issues resolved
According to Taj, changing the base camp will resolve potential visa issues, as the team will enter the US through Mexico. He added that the team may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights. Taj stated, "All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA. Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved."
Previous concerns and FIFA's stance
In March, after the US and Israel began joint airstrikes on Iran, it was reported that FIFA was unwilling to move the team's World Cup matches to Mexico. Then-President Donald Trump commented that the "life and safety" of Iran's players could be at risk if they traveled to the US. However, at last month's FIFA congress in Vancouver, President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran would play their World Cup games in the US as scheduled. "Let me start at the outset by confirming straight away, for those who maybe want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together," Infantino said.
