Iran moves – Iran has moved its World Cup training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, with FIFA not yet confirming the change. The federation says the decision was approved after meetings with FIFA in Istanbul and a webinar with FIFA’s secretary general in Tehra
The Iranian national team’s World Cup preparations hit a hard reset just weeks before kick-off: the federation says it has abandoned its planned base in Tucson, Arizona, and will train instead in Tijuana, Mexico.
The World Cup itself—co-hosted by the US. Canada and Mexico—runs from June 11 to July 19. with Iran scheduled to play Group G matches in Inglewood. California against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later. before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Team Melli is appearing at its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. and has never progressed beyond the first round.
Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj announced the relocation on Saturday. The federation said the squad had been set to train in Tucson. but the move had become a possibility because of security concerns linked to the conflict in the Middle East. which it says was triggered by joint US-Israel strikes in February. In the federation’s statement, Taj said the team will now be based in Tijuana, just south of San Diego.
FIFA has not confirmed the move.
Taj framed the decision as an approval process rather than a scramble. “All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said. He added: “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.”.
The federation also tied the move to practical travel. It said shifting the base camp will resolve potential visa issues because the team will enter the US through Mexico. Taj said the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.”
The relocation lands amid escalating uncertainty over Iran’s participation. Discussions about Iran’s place in the tournament had been rife throughout the Middle East conflict. including calls made in the US by a top representative of Donald Trump—urging that Iran be kicked out and replaced with Italy.
Last month. US special envoy Paolo Zampolli urged both Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino to let Italy take Iran’s spot this summer. Trump later said he “had put little thought into that suggestion. ” while Infantino insisted: “the Iranian team is coming. for sure.” At FIFA’s Congress. the FIFA chief maintained that stance. and when Trump was asked about Infantino’s comments. Trump responded: “Well if Gianni said it. I’m OK.”.
As Iran prepares for its group-stage schedule across three venues in the US, the next question is straightforward: how quickly FIFA will confirm the base change—and what it means for a tournament already shadowed by diplomatic pressure and security fears.
Iran national team World Cup 2026 Team Melli Mehdi Taj FIFA training base Tucson Tijuana Inglewood New Zealand Belgium Egypt Paolo Zampolli Gianni Infantino Donald Trump