Iran moving World Cup base camp from US to Mexico
Iran's 2026 FIFA World Cup training base has been moved from the United States to Mexico with the approval of FIFA, the president of the governing body of Iranian football has revealed.
FIFA has not yet confirmed the move, which was announced by Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation.
"All team base camps for the countries participating in the [FIFA] World Cup must be approved FIFA," a statement from Taj read.
"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 the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved."
The Iran team had been scheduled to hold its base camp, which is used for training ahead of and after matches, at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, but the war in the Middle East and related security concerns had caused uncertainty about Iran's activities.
"We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," Taj said in a video posted on the federation's Telegram social media account, noting the move could resolve potential visa issues with the team entering the United States through Mexico.
Iran officials said earlier this month their players and staff had not yet received visas for the United States.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, runs from 12 June (AEST) through 20 July (AEST).
As part of Group G, Iran is set to play its first two matches in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on 16 June (AEST) and Belgium on 22 June (AEST), with a 27 June (AEST) match-up against Egypt in Seattle.























