Sunday, May 24, 2026- Iran’s national football team has officially moved its 2026 FIFA World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico after receiving approval from FIFA, according to officials from the Iran Football Federation.
The team had originally planned to prepare for the tournament in Tucson, Arizona, but will now establish its headquarters in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the U.S. border.
Iranian football officials said the decision was driven by growing concerns over visa complications, travel logistics, and security tensions linked to the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Federation president Mehdi Taj stated that FIFA approved the relocation following direct talks with tournament organizers and senior FIFA officials. Tijuana was reportedly chosen because of its proximity to Los Angeles, where Iran will play two of its Group G matches against New Zealand and Belgium before facing Egypt in Seattle.
The move highlights how geopolitics are increasingly affecting preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Although FIFA has insisted Iran’s matches in the U.S. will proceed as scheduled, uncertainty surrounding visas, security guarantees, and diplomatic tensions has remained a major issue for months.
Iran’s relocation to Mexico is now being viewed as a compromise that allows the team to participate while reducing operational risks ahead of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
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