Overview
- Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation, announced on Saturday that the national team will shift its 2026 World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico following meetings with FIFA and tournament officials.
- The federation says the relocation is intended to reduce visa hurdles and perceived security risks by keeping the squad in Mexico and flying into the United States only for scheduled matches.
- FIFA has not issued a public confirmation of the change, and U.S. or local Tucson officials told reporters they had no formal notice at the time of publication.
- Iran will still play its Group G matches in U.S. venues — two fixtures in Inglewood/Los Angeles and one in Seattle — and the team plans to return to Tijuana after each game.
- Key operational questions remain unresolved, including whether every player and staff member will obtain U.S. entry visas, conflicting reports about embassy visa rejections that the federation later denied, and proposals to use Iran Air or private flights to manage cross‑border travel; the issue is shaped by the lack of U.S. diplomatic ties with Iran and concerns over individuals linked to the IRGC.