Iran was scheduled to fly from Turkiye to Arizona to continue preparations for the 2026 World Cup, but will switch to Mexico.
Published May 23, 2026
Iran will be based in the Mexican border city of Tijuana during this year’s World Cup, the head of Iran’s Football Federation announced on Saturday, after world soccer governing body FIFA approved a request to move its training camp from Arizona.
“We will be based in the Tijuana camp, close to the Pacific Ocean and on the border of Mexico and the United States,” Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said in a video posted on his Telegram social media account.
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Taj added that the switch will help avoid visa-related complications following the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, and will allow the team to fly directly to Mexico on Iran Air.
Iran will play its first two matches in Group G in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before playing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
“The total distance between us and the game venue in Los Angeles is a 55-minute flight,” Taj said, adding that Tijuana was closer to the game venue than the team’s previously planned camp in Arizona.
Iran has faced months of uncertainty over travel and security arrangements for the World Cup, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and had called for the match to be moved from the United States.
Iranian authorities said earlier this month that players and staff had yet to obtain U.S. visas, less than a month before the tournament began. They started applying for visas while in Turkiye for pre-tournament training.
Taj said FIFA was asked to provide visa, security and treatment guarantees for the Iranian delegation.
Iran is scheduled to play Gambia in a friendly on May 29, after which coach Amir Galenoei will name the final 26-man World Cup squad by FIFA’s June 1 deadline.
The World Cup will be held from June 11th to July 19th.
