FIFA Approves Irans Move of World Cup Base from US to Mexico

Iran’s Football Federation Has Changed Training Camp Location for World Cup 2026 Preparations

Iran’s football team will no longer be based in Arizona, but instead will train in the Mexican border city of Tijuana during this year’s World Cup. According to Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, the decision was made after FIFA approved a request to move their training camp from Arizona.

Taj stated that the new location in Tijuana is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States. He attributed the change to avoid visa-related complications following the US-Israel war on Iran, allowing the squad to fly directly to Mexico with Iran Air.

Iran will play their first two Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The total distance between Tijuana and the venue of their games in Los Angeles is approximately 55 minutes by flight, according to Taj.

The change comes after Iranian officials faced uncertainty over travel and security arrangements for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran had asked for their games to be moved from the US due to visa issues, with players and staff yet to receive US visas less than a month before the start of the tournament.

FIFA provided guarantees on visas, security, and the treatment of the Iranian delegation after Iran requested assurances. The World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, and Iran’s final 26-man squad will be named by coach Amir Ghalenoei by FIFA’s deadline of June 1.

Source: Al Jazeera