new delhi, May 24
FIFA has approved Iran’s request to shift its training base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the United States to Mexico, a move aimed at easing travel, visa and logistical concerns ahead of the tournament. The decision was confirmed by the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehdi Taj, following consultations with FIFA and tournament officials.
Iran had originally planned to establish its World Cup base camp in Tucson, but the team will now operate from Tijuana during the tournament, which is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
According to Taj, the approval came after discussions with FIFA and World Cup officials during meetings held in Istanbul, followed by a virtual meeting involving senior FIFA representatives. He stated that the Iranian federation had formally requested a change in the team’s operational base to avoid potential complications related to travel and entry procedures in the United States. “All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA. Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in Tehran with the FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved,” Taj said in a statement issued by the federation.
Iranian football authorities believe relocating the camp to Mexico will simplify several operational and logistical challenges linked to travel into the United States, particularly regarding visa procedures and the movement of players, coaches, officials and support staff during the competition. Concerns over entry permissions and travel restrictions have remained a sensitive issue for Iran in recent years because of strained diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.
Taj also suggested that shifting the team’s base to Mexico could improve travel convenience for the squad and federation officials. He indicated that the arrangement may even allow the team to use direct flights operated by Iran Air for travel related to the tournament. “The team may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights,” Taj said.
The Iranian federation further highlighted the strategic importance of Tijuana’s location. Situated close to the United States border and near California, the city offers easier access to venues where Iran will play most of its group-stage fixtures. Officials noted that the new base camp includes complete training facilities, gym access, private dining arrangements and other infrastructure required by the national team during the tournament.
Despite relocating their training headquarters to Mexico, Iran will still play all three of their Group G matches in the United States. Team Melli will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on June 15. They will then face Belgium at the same venue on June 21 before concluding the group stage against Egypt at Lumen Field on June 26. The decision to move the training base also comes against the backdrop of wider geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in international sporting events. Earlier this month, reports indicated that Mehdi Taj was denied entry into Canada ahead of the FIFA Congress because of alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, commonly known as the IRGC. Canada officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2024, further complicating diplomatic and travel-related interactions involving Iranian officials.
The issue has added another political dimension to Iran’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even as the team focuses on sporting ambitions. Iran remain one of Asia’s strongest football nations and have qualified consistently for recent World Cups. The upcoming tournament will mark the country’s fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance and its seventh overall participation in the competition.
