Iran Relocates 2026 World Cup Training Base from US Soil to Mexican Border City of Tijuana

Iran Switches World Cup Base Camp to Tijuana After Fifa Approval

Iran's Football Federation has announced that Fifa has officially approved the relocation of the national team's 2026 World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona in the United States to Tijuana, a Mexican city sitting right on the US-Mexico border.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), confirmed the development, stating that the move had been greenlit following a series of high-level discussions with Fifa leadership. However, as of the time of reporting, Fifa itself had yet to publicly confirm the change.

Why Iran Requested the Move

Iran was originally assigned Tucson, Arizona as their designated training base for the tournament. However, escalating tensions in the Middle East, combined with significant security-related concerns, have cast a long shadow over the team's ability to operate smoothly on American soil.

Visa complications have added further pressure. Earlier this month, Taj revealed that Iranian players were still awaiting entry visas for the tournament, which is set to kick off on 11 June. The FFIRI has also formally presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions required for their participation, one of which involves securing visas for players, coaching staff, and officials who have previously completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated publicly that Iranian players will be welcomed into the country for the tournament, but cautioned that individuals with documented ties to the IRGC may face restrictions on entry.

Tijuana Offers Practical Advantages

Beyond the political and security considerations, Taj emphasized that Tijuana also presents a more logistically convenient location for Iran's scheduled fixtures.

"The distance for us in the two games that we have in LA will be a 55-minute flight, which is a lot less compared to Tucson," Taj explained.

The coastal Mexican city, located near the Pacific Ocean and directly adjacent to the US border, provides easier access to Los Angeles, where Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June. The team also has a group stage match against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Diplomatic Hurdles Continue for Iranian Officials

The road to the World Cup has not been straightforward for Iranian football officials. Taj himself was among several FFIRI representatives who were turned away at the Canadian border ahead of Fifa's annual congress held in Vancouver in April. Canada's immigration minister later confirmed to parliament that Taj's visa had been revoked due to his alleged connections to the IRGC.

Despite these obstacles, progress is being made at the player level. Several members of Iran's squad traveled to the US embassy in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday to submit their visa applications for the tournament.

Taj outlined the diplomatic efforts that led to the base camp switch, noting that key meetings were held with Fifa and World Cup officials in Istanbul, followed by a webinar session in Tehran with Fifa Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom.

"All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by Fifa," Taj stated. "Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved. We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States."

Iran Preparing in Turkey Ahead of Tournament

The Iranian national team is currently in the midst of pre-tournament preparations in Antalya, located in southern Turkey, as they gear up for what promises to be a politically charged and logistically complex World Cup campaign.

The 2026 Fifa World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first edition of the expanded 48-team tournament. BBC Sport has reached out to Fifa for an official response regarding the base camp change.