Iran Moves World Cup Training Base from US to Mexico Due to Visa Issues

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, announced that FIFA has approved Iran's request to move its World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico, with the border city of Tijuana serving as the headquarters. In a video broadcast by the Fars news agency, Taj said, "Thanks to our multiple meetings with FIFA officials... we applied to change the training base from the US to Mexico due to difficulties in obtaining visas, and it has been accepted." He added, "We will be stationed in Tijuana, near the Pacific. It is located between Mexico and the US, but it is inside Mexico. Our preparations there are effectively complete." Taj stated that this move helps resolve complex visa-related issues and allows the team to fly directly to Mexico via Iran Air. The US is a co-host of the World Cup, and Iran's participation has been uncertain for months due to broader Middle East conflicts. Iran is in Group G and will play New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 26. Taj noted that Tijuana is closer to the match cities than the original site in Tucson, Arizona. The team is currently training in Antalya, Turkey, and some players have submitted visa applications at the US Embassy in Ankara. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed last month that Iran would participate in the World Cup in the US as scheduled, emphasizing the need for unity.