The president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, announced on Saturday that the team's World Cup training base has been relocated from the United States to Mexico, claiming approval from Fifa. The federation stated that the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of the originally planned Tucson, Arizona. Fifa has not yet confirmed the move.
Taj said in a statement that the change was approved following requests and meetings with Fifa and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as a webinar with the Fifa secretary general. The federation cited potential visa issues and security concerns as reasons for the switch, noting that the team could enter the US from Mexico and may use Iran Air flights for travel.
Iran are scheduled to play Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The team are appearing in their fourth consecutive World Cup and seventh overall, but have never advanced past the first round.
The announcement comes after earlier reports in March that Fifa was unwilling to move Iran's matches to Mexico, following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. At that time, Donald Trump warned that the “life and safety” of Iran's players could be at risk in 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, emphasising unity.
