Iran Relocates World Cup Base to Mexico Amidst Visa and Geopolitical Tensions

In a significant shift, Iran's national football team has successfully secured approval from FIFA to relocate its World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. This decision, announced by Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, on Saturday, May 23, 2026, comes after persistent challenges in obtaining US visas for the squad and accompanying officials.

Taj, in a video distributed by the Fars news agency, confirmed that FIFA had greenlit their request, allowing the team to be based in Tijuana, a city strategically located on the border between Mexico and the United States. He emphasized that this move would circumvent visa complications and enable the squad to utilize Iran Air flights for direct travel to Mexico, thereby completing their team building in the new location.

The relocation also offers logistical advantages for Iran's match schedule. The team, drawn in Group G, is set to play its first two World Cup matches in Los Angeles. The opening game is against New Zealand on June 15, followed by a clash with Belgium on June 21. Their final group stage match will be against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Taj highlighted that Tijuana is considerably closer to these venues compared to the originally planned Arizona base. He noted that flights to Los Angeles from Tijuana would be approximately 55 minutes, a substantial reduction in travel time.

Iran's participation in the World Cup had been under scrutiny for months, primarily due to heightened geopolitical tensions. The United States, a co-host of the tournament, along with Israel, initiated bombing campaigns in Iran on February 28, escalating a broader conflict in the Middle East.

The visa uncertainty had been a critical concern for the Iranian football federation. Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, the federation's vice-president, had previously expressed doubts on Tuesday, May 20, 2026, about whether all players and staff would receive US visas, although he conveyed confidence in FIFA's protocols. The team is currently in Antalya, southern Turkey, for pre-tournament training, with some members having visited the US embassy in Ankara on Thursday to submit visa applications.

Despite the change, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had affirmed earlier at a congress in Vancouver last month that Iran would indeed participate in the World Cup and play its scheduled matches in the United States. Infantino's statement underscored FIFA's commitment to uniting nations through sports, saying, "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."

Sarah Hanna, head of the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, the original intended base, confirmed on Saturday that she could not verify the move to Mexico and directed all inquiries to World Cup organizers. The FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled to commence on June 11.