Iran Moves World Cup Training Base to Tijuana as Visa Uncertainty Lingers

Overview

• Iran’s football federation announced on Saturday that FIFA approved changing the team’s World Cup base from Tucson to Tijuana to address travel and logistics, according to federation president Mehdi Taj.
• The federation says the Tijuana site should largely ease routine visa and movement problems and has praised the city’s training facilities and proximity to Los Angeles.
• Some players and staff have already filed U.S. visa applications at the U.S. embassy in Turkey and federation leaders have warned they do not yet know whether all requests will be approved.
• Local Tucson officials said they had not received formal confirmation from FIFA about the switch and FIFA had not issued an immediate public statement on the move.
• Broader diplomatic and security factors complicate travel, including the U.S. and Canada’s designation of the IRGC and recent U.S.-Israeli military action that has raised questions about visa decisions and the team’s participation.