Iran shifts – Iran says FIFA has approved a late change to its World Cup 2026 base camp, moving from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico—an adjustment coming amid uncertainty around Iran’s World Cup status after conflict in the Middle East.
Iran’s World Cup plans were set in motion again—this time with a new camp location and a deadline-tight request approved by FIFA.
Iran said it will move its World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj said in a statement that FIFA had approved his team’s late request.
“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA,” Taj said. “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 respected FIFA Secretary General. our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”.
FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taj framed the move as both practical and geographic. “We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States,” he said in a video posted on the FFIRI Telegram social media account.
The decision lands in a period when Iran’s World Cup participation has been in doubt. Iran’s World Cup status has hung uncertain since the United States and Israel launched an armed conflict against Iran in late February, with the nations currently in an unsteady ceasefire.
For Taj, the camp shift was part of a broader effort to secure smooth participation. On Saturday, May 16, a FIFA delegation led by secretary general Mattias Grafström met with FFIRI officials in Istanbul, Turkey. After that meeting, Taj said he felt optimistic the team would be able to participate.
“We had a positive and constructive meeting with FIFA,” Taj said in a FIFA announcement. “We discussed our concerns and expressed our joint commitment to ensure the smooth participation of Team Melli at the FIFA World Cup.”
The sequence of meetings and approvals matters because it points to how quickly decisions have been moving—late requests, international travel, and diplomacy happening alongside match scheduling.
Iran’s schedule is now mapped out toward the tournament. The team will face Gambia in a pre-World Cup friendly in Antalya, Turkey on May 29 before it is scheduled to head to North America for its pre-tournament camp.
Iran is scheduled to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. Team Melli will also take on Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle.
The United States, Mexico and Canada will serve as co-hosts for the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19.
Iran World Cup 2026 FIFA approval Mehdi Taj Tucson Tijuana base camp Team Melli Mattias Grafström Mexico co-hosts Los Angeles June 15
Why would they even move a camp like that… sounds shady.
So they’re just staying in Mexico now? Tucson to Tijuana is like… a whole vibe. Hope FIFA actually checks everything tho.
I don’t get it, isn’t Tijuana like for tourism and not football practice? Also if they’re “uncertain” to be in the World Cup, moving camps feels pointless. The article says border, Pacific, whatever. But if Iran can’t even be there because of the whole US/Israel thing, then why are they traveling at all.
FIFA approves a late change right after all that ceasefire drama?? That part confuses me. Like do they approve because they’re worried about safety in the US or because of visa stuff? Also Los Angeles games… so they’re basically booking flights either way, right? Seems like everybody’s scrambling.