Iran's national football team will relocate their training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 after receiving approval from FIFA. This decision was confirmed by Mehdi Taj, the President of Iran's Football Federation, in a video shared on their Telegram account.

Training Camp Relocation

The Iranian squad was initially set to prepare in Arizona, but the move to Tijuana aims to mitigate potential visa issues stemming from the ongoing US-Israel conflict involving Iran. Taj noted that the team would be able to fly directly to Mexico using Iran Air, facilitating their preparations.

Proximity to Match Venues

Iran's first two matches in Group G will take place in Los Angeles, with games scheduled against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Taj emphasized that the flight duration from Tijuana to Los Angeles is only 55 minutes, making it a more convenient location compared to their original camp in Arizona.

The Iranian team has faced challenges regarding travel and security arrangements for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With less than a month until the tournament begins, Iranian officials reported that players and staff had not yet received US visas, prompting them to apply during their training in Turkiye.

As the World Cup approaches, Iran is scheduled to play a friendly against Gambia on May 29, after which coach Amir Ghalenoei will finalize the 26-man squad by FIFA's June 1 deadline. The tournament is set to run from June 11 to July 19.