Iran moves World Cup training base from Arizona to Tijuana

The president of Iran's soccer federation said Saturday that the national team's World Cup training base has been moved from the United States to Mexico after FIFA approved the change.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision in a statement issued by the federation's media relations office. FIFA has not confirmed the move.

Iran had planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, but officials cited uncertainty over the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Officials at Tucson's Kino Sports Complex had no comment.

The federation said the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA," Taj said. "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."

Iran plays Group G matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The federation said Tijuana's proximity to Inglewood will benefit the team and that the new site includes all training facilities, a gym, a private restaurant and everything else the team needs.

Team Melli is appearing in its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. It has never advanced past the first round.

The federation said the move will resolve potential visa issues because the team will enter the United States through Mexico. Taj said the team "may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights."

Teams use base camps for training ahead of and after matches.

President Trump's messaging on Iran's participation has been unclear. In a White House meeting in mid-March, Trump told FIFA representatives that Iran was welcome to play, officials told CBS News. Two days later, he wrote on Truth Social that while the Iranian team was "welcome" to participate, he did not "believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

Following those remarks, Taj said Iran was negotiating with FIFA to play its matches in Mexico.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly said Iran will participate. On April 30 in Vancouver, while addressing the FIFA Congress, Infantino said "that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America."