Overview
- Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, said late Saturday that FIFA approved a request to move the team’s training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
- The federation says the Tijuana site is fully equipped and will let the squad fly directly to Mexico on Iran Air and make shorter trips to Los Angeles for its June group games.
- News outlets note FIFA had not immediately posted a public confirmation of the relocation at the time of Iran’s announcement.
- Iranian officials have reported outstanding U.S. visas for some players and staff less than a month before the tournament, and the move aims to reduce the delegation’s time on U.S. soil by entering through Mexico.
- Iran still must complete pre‑tournament steps, including a friendly on May 29 and naming its final 26‑man squad by June 1, and will play Group G matches in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21 and in Seattle on June 26.