Addis Ababa, June 7, 2026 (FMC) — Iran’s national football team has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after relocating its tournament base from the United States due to visa complications affecting members of its delegation, Reuters reported.
The Iranian squad landed in the Mexican border city on Sunday following a three-week training camp in Turkey. The team will use Tijuana as its base throughout the group stage, traveling into the United States for matches before returning to Mexico.
According to Reuters, Iran revised its World Cup preparations after several officials and support staff were denied U.S. visas, although all players received the necessary travel documents to compete in the tournament. The relocation comes amid strained relations between Washington and Tehran, with U.S. authorities citing national security considerations in some visa decisions.
The Iranian Football Federation has expressed concern over the restrictions, saying they disrupted the team’s logistical planning and preparations for the tournament.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi described the visa delays as a setback but reaffirmed the squad’s determination to remain focused on its World Cup campaign.
Despite the challenges, Iran has continued its preparations and will commute from Tijuana to the United States for each of its group-stage fixtures. Reuters said FIFA approved the team’s arrangement to base itself in Mexico for the duration of the group stage.
Iran will begin its FIFA World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15, before taking on Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will kick off on June 11, marking the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams competing across three host nations.