Iran’s national football team has made a key change to its preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The squad will now base itself in the Mexican border city of Tijuana instead of Arizona after soccer’s world governing body approved the switch.
The announcement came on Saturday from Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation. In a video shared on the federation’s Telegram channel, Taj explained the new plan.
Mehdi Taj's announcement
"We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," Iran's soccer federation President Mehdi Taj said in a video posted on its Telegram social media account.
Taj added that the move would help avoid visa-related complications and that the squad would be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
Strategic location gives Iran easier access to match venues
The new base puts the team much closer to its Group G fixtures. Iran opens against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, faces Belgium in the same city on June 21, and wraps up the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Taj stressed the travel advantage of the Tijuana site. "The total distance between us and the venue of our games in Los Angeles is 55 minutes by flight," Taj said, adding that Tijuana was closer to their match venues than the team's previously planned camp in Arizona.
The Pacific coast setting offers modern training facilities and a calm environment, helping players stay fresh between matches without long journeys.
Months of uncertainty over visas and security finally eased
Iran had faced ongoing worries about travel and security arrangements for the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Just weeks ago, officials revealed that players and staff still had not received US visas. Taj said the federation had asked FIFA for firm guarantees on visas, security, and fair treatment of the Iranian delegation.
The switch to Tijuana solves many of these headaches. By basing the team in Mexico, Iran can enter more smoothly and focus fully on football rather than paperwork and logistics.
What the move means for Iran’s World Cup campaign
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the three host nations. For Iran, a reliable training base near their venues is vital in a tough Group G that includes strong sides like Belgium.
