Iran has officially relocated its 2026 FIFA World Cup training headquarters from the United States to Mexico following green-light approval from world football’s governing body, FIFA.
Team Melli will now establish their tournament base camp in the Pacific border city of Tijuana instead of their originally planned site in Tucson, Arizona.
Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed the switch, citing severe logistical hurdles and complications in securing United States visas for the delegation.
The political backdrop is highly sensitive, as Iran’s tournament preparation has been plagued by uncertainty since regional conflicts triggered military action involving the US earlier this year.
By shifting base to the Mexican border, the federation aims to bypass rigorous immigration gridlocks while utilizing direct Iran Air flights to transport the squad safely.
Despite the relocation, Iran will still fulfill its Group G obligations entirely on American soil, utilizing a short 55-minute flight from Tijuana to travel for their fixtures.
The Asian heavyweights are slated to open their ambitious World Cup campaign against New Zealand at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on June 16, before facing Belgium and Egypt.
