Iran’s soccer federation is steering clear of a U.S. base for the 2026 World Cup, announcing Saturday that the national team will set up its training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, instead. Officials say the switch is meant to sidestep visa headaches and security worries as the squad gears up for its West Coast group matches in June.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said in a federation statement that “our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved.” FIFA, however, has not yet publicly confirmed the move, according to The Associated Press.
Why Tijuana?
Federation officials say relocating to Tijuana should ease potential U.S. visa delays and cut down on travel time to nearby match sites. In a video message released by the FFIRI, Taj added that the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.” That video and the federation’s reasoning were reported by Arab News.
From Tucson to Tijuana
Until the late change of plans, Iran had been expected to train at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, where local crews and staff had already been preparing the fields and facilities. Tucson officials declined to comment after the federation’s announcement. Earlier coverage of the city’s preparations and the local response was detailed by Al Jazeera.
What This Means For Los Angeles And Seattle
The move to Tijuana does not touch Iran’s actual match schedule. The team is still set to face New Zealand and Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 15 and June 21, then meet Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 26. Those dates and venues were set in advance and are listed in tournament coverage by ESPN.
Logistics And Political Backdrop
Iran’s federation has been pushing for visa guarantees, including special consideration for players and staff who previously served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and officials say unresolved visa issues helped drive the decision to move base camps. Those demands and the federation’s talks with FIFA were previously reported by The Associated Press.
FIFA's Role And Next Steps
Every Team Base Camp must receive FIFA approval, under a program that designates and vets official sites. Iran’s federation says it has secured approval for Tijuana, although FIFA has not yet released public confirmation or operational details. The governing body outlines its Team Base Camp program and the approval process on its website at FIFA.
For now, Iranian officials say the Tijuana setup offers a practical workaround that limits time spent on U.S. soil while keeping the team locked into the World Cup schedule. Tournament organizers, FIFA, and local venue operators are expected to provide more specifics on travel and accreditation in the coming days as final plans are hammered out.
