Iran’s World Cup preparations have taken a late turn. The national team had been expected to use Tucson, Arizona, as its tournament base, but Iranian soccer officials now say the squad will operate from Tijuana, just across the U.S.-Mexico border. The move does not change Iran’s first-round match schedule, which remains set for Los Angeles and Seattle. It does, however, add Mexico to a sensitive travel and security story unfolding before kickoff.

Iran sets World Cup base in Tijuana after Tucson plan changes

Iran’s national soccer team will use Tijuana as its base during the 2026 World Cup, changing an earlier plan to train in Tucson, Arizona, according to Iranian soccer officials cited by La Jornada, Reuters, and The Associated Press.

The team had been expected to prepare in Arizona, but Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said the federation requested a move to Mexico because of visa, security, and travel concerns. Taj said FIFA approved the change after meetings with World Cup officials, though Reuters reported that FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and AP reported that FIFA had not independently confirmed the move.

Iran’s matches remain in the United States

Iran is in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Its first two matches are scheduled for the Los Angeles area, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a June 26 match against Egypt in Seattle, according to Reuters and AP.

Taj said Tijuana is closer to the Los Angeles match venue than the team’s previous Arizona plan. He described the flight time from Tijuana to Los Angeles as about 55 minutes, according to La Jornada and Reuters.

The federation said the new base would allow the team to enter the United States from Mexico. Taj also said the arrangement could allow Iran to travel directly to and from Mexico on Iran Air flights.

Visa and security questions shaped the change

Iran has faced travel questions before the tournament because all three of its group-stage matches are scheduled in the United States, a country with which Iran has not had diplomatic relations since 1980. La Jornada noted the issue in its Sunday sports coverage, citing the long-running diplomatic break and uncertainty around U.S. visas.

Reuters reported that Iranian officials had asked FIFA for guarantees regarding visas, security, and the delegation’s treatment. The same report said Iranian officials had stated earlier in May that players and staff had not yet received U.S. visas, less than a month before the tournament.

FIFA has previously described team-based camps as paired training and accommodation sites used by national teams during the group stage to train, rest, and prepare between matches.

The Tijuana move adds another Mexico-based logistical element to a tournament being hosted across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Vallarta Daily has been tracking developments in World Cup 2026 planning, transportation, security, and tourism in its Mexico World Cup coverage.