Iran's national football team has relocated its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the upcoming World Cup. This decision comes amid ongoing concerns regarding visa and security arrangements for the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Training Camp Relocation

The head of Iran's football federation, Mehdi Taj, confirmed the move, stating that the Tijuana camp is strategically located near the Pacific Ocean and close to the U.S. border. In a video shared on the federation's Telegram account, Taj emphasized that this change would help the team avoid complications related to U.S. visas. He noted that the squad would be able to travel directly to Mexico using Iran Air flights.

Match Preparations

Iran is set to play its first two Group G matches in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before playing Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Taj mentioned that the flight time from Tijuana to Los Angeles is approximately 55 minutes, making it a more convenient option compared to the original camp in Arizona.

Ongoing Visa Issues

Despite the relocation, Iran has been grappling with uncertainty regarding travel and security for months. Iranian officials reported that as of this month, their players and staff had not yet received U.S. visas, raising concerns just weeks before the tournament begins. Taj indicated that FIFA had been approached for assurances regarding visas, security, and the treatment of the Iranian delegation during the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19.