FIFA has approved Iran’s request to move its 2026 World Cup training base from the US to Mexico

ByTech Word News

Iranian football (Image: Getty) FIFA has officially approved Iran’s request to relocate its 2026 FIFA World Cup training camp from Arizona, United States, to Tijuana, Mexico, following concerns over logistics, travel restrictions and visa complications. The decision was confirmed by Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), after a series of meetings with FIFA officials in Istanbul and a subsequent confirmation webinar.Why Iran asked for relocationAccording to Iran’s soccer authorities, the move was mainly due to practical and logistical problems associated with operating directly from the United States during the tournament. One of the main factors behind the request was to avoid potential visa and travel complications for players, staff and support staff entering the US.By establishing a camp in Tijuana, Iran is said to be able to simplify travel arrangements and at the same time take advantage of direct flights operated by Iran Air.Tijuana’s location also offers a strategic advantage. Located just south of the US border near San Diego, the city provides relatively quick access to the Iranian group scene in the United States. Flights from Tijuana to Los Angeles take less than an hour, significantly reducing travel time compared to the team’s original training base in Tucson, Arizona.Iran World Cup 2026 Group Stage ScheduleDespite moving their base camp to Mexico, Iran will still play all of their Group G matches in the United States:

  1. June 15: New Zealand national football team at SoFi Stadium
  2. June 21: Belgium national football team at the SoFi Stadium
  3. June 26: Egyptian national football team at Lumen Stadium

Political tensions over Iran’s involvement continue

The relocation decision comes amid heightened political sensitivity surrounding Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Earlier this month, Canada denied FFIRI president Mehdi Taj entry to the FIFA Congress, reportedly citing alleged ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada designated as a terrorist organization in 2024.Despite the controversy, Iranian football officials insisted that the Melli team would compete in the tournament.In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, FFIRI said:“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take into account our concerns.”The federation also stressed that Iran would participate “without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions.”