Iranian national team to train in Mexico during World Cup after base camp switch, federation leader says
As next month’s highly anticipated World Cup approaches, participating nations are finalizing base camps in the tournament’s three host countries that will serve as training centers during the competition.
This year’s World Cup is co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
However, the Iranian national team, which is facing intense scrutiny ahead of this summer’s World Cup, recently learned that its headquarters will not be in the United States once the tournament begins. According to the president of Iran’s football federation, the team will instead establish its base camp in Mexico.
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Iran national football team players stand on stage at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran during a pro-government meeting before leaving for training and friendly matches in Türkiye ahead of the World Cup on May 13, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP)
Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj announced the decision in a statement issued by the federation’s media relations office on Saturday. FIFA did not immediately confirm the move.
Iran was planned to conduct training in Tucson, Arizona, but this step was likely to be taken due to uncertainties and security concerns about the war in the Middle East. Tucson Kino Sports Complex officials declined to comment.
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According to the Iranian football federation, the team’s base will now be moved to Tijuana, Mexico, south of the California border.
“All team camps of the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said in his statement. “Thankfully, following the demands we submitted, the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, and the webinar meeting we held with the esteemed FIFA general secretary in Tehran yesterday, our request to change the team’s base from the USA to Mexico was approved.”
Iran national football team players Omid Norafkan (21) and Saman Ghoddos (14) celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asia region qualifiers Group A football match between Iran and Uzbekistan in Tehran on March 25, 2025. (AFP via Getty Images)
Iran will play its Group G matches against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 15 and Belgium six days later, followed by Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The federation said Tijuana’s relative proximity to the Los Angeles area would benefit the team and that the new location “contains all training facilities, gym, private restaurant and everything else the team needs.”
Iran’s men’s national team, also commonly referred to as Team Melli, will take part in its fourth consecutive World Cup. The team never progressed beyond the group stage.
Iranian team players pose for a team photo before the 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifiers Group A third round match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on June 5, 2025. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)
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The Iranian federation said moving the base camp would resolve potential visa issues as the team will enter the United States via Mexico. The president said the team “will be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.”
The World Cup opens on June 11 and ends on July 19 with the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
