Iran’s National Team Has Surprisingly Moved Its 2026 World Cup Base Out of the United States
Iran national team has made a landmark decision ahead of the 2026 World Cup. According to an official announcement from the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, this entire team’s training base will be moved from Arizona (USA) to the border city of Tijuana, Mexico.
Join Phlwin as he explores what’s happening and what impacts it will have on the 2026 World Cup.
Iran Requests a Change of Training Location For the National Team
“All our training facilities will be moved to Mexico. Any changes to national teams participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA. Fortunately, the request to move the Iranian team’s training location from the US to Mexico has been approved,” emphasized President Mehdi Taj.
The reason for this sudden change stems from deep concerns about security and the conflict in the Middle East. Initially, this team planned to assemble in Tucson, Arizona. FIFA and the US also meticulously planned to ensure the security of the Asian team.
However, escalating instability in the Middle East, along with the US’s failure to grant visas to the Iranian players and coaching staff, put the AFC representatives in a dilemma. With the tournament starting in less than three weeks, they chose to move to Mexico for safer training.
Why did Iran choose Mexico as their base?
Choosing Mexico as an alternative location is seen as a shrewd move to overcome legal hurdles, allowing team members to avoid the complex immigration process directly into the United States. It also ensures maximum safety for the Iranian delegation throughout the tournament.
Geographically and logistically, Tijuana offers significant advantages for the team. Their new base in Mexico boasts modern sports infrastructure, from standard training pitches and recovery rooms to comprehensive meal plans.
In particular, the travel distance from there to the stadium in Inglewood (a suburb of Los Angeles), where the national team will play their first two matches, is only about a 55-minute flight. This optimizes the players’ recovery time and minimizes fatigue from long journeys.
At the 2026 World Cup, Iran is in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their opening match will be on June 15th against New Zealand.
