Iran soccer team to base World Cup camp in Mexico instead of Arizona

As next month’s World Cup approaches, participating nations are finalizing base camps across the tournament’s three host countries.

The United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting this year’s World Cup.

Iran’s national team recently learned it will not be based in the United States. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced Saturday that the team will instead establish its base camp in Mexico. FIFA did not immediately confirm the move.

Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona. Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex declined to comment. A move had been possible because of uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns.

According to Iran’s soccer federation, the team’s base will now switch to Tijuana, Mexico, south of the California border.

“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said in a statement. “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 games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. The federation said Tijuana’s relatively close proximity to the Los Angeles area will benefit the team and that the new location “includes all training facilities, gym, private restaurant and everything else the team needs.”

Iran’s men’s national team, also known as Team Melli, is set to appear in its fourth consecutive World Cup. The team has never advanced beyond the group stage.

Iran’s federation said moving the base camp will resolve potential visa issues since the team will enter the United States through Mexico. The president said the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights.”

The World Cup opens June 11 and concludes July 19 with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.