Iran Relocates World Cup Camp to Mexico After FIFA Approval

The Iranian Football Federation announced that it has received approval from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to move the team's residence and training camp during the 2026 World Cup from the United States to Mexico, due to security conditions related to the war in the Middle East and concerns regarding travel and visas.

The Iranian national team had previously planned to stay in the city of Tucson, Arizona, before deciding to move to the Mexican city of Tijuana, near San Diego.

The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, confirmed that the decision came after a series of meetings with FIFA officials in Istanbul, as well as an online meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Federation, noting that all training camps for participating teams require official approval from FIFA.

He added that moving to Mexico will help the team overcome any potential issues related to obtaining visas and entering the United States.

The Iranian national team will play its matches in Group G, facing New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, then Belgium on June 21, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran is participating in the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time and the seventh time in its history, but it has not yet succeeded in advancing beyond the first round.

Previous reports had mentioned FIFA's hesitation to relocate Iran's matches outside the United States despite political and military tensions. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier emphasized that the Iranian team would play its matches in the US as scheduled, asserting that the World Cup should be an event that unites people rather than deepening divisions.