The Iranian Football Federation officially announced this Saturday (May 23) an important change in preparation plans for the 2026 World Cup. The Iranian team left the base initially planned in Tucson, Arizona (USA), and will now focus on Tijuana, Mexico.
Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed that FIFA approved the change following a series of meetings held in recent days.
The Iranian delegation will be based at the Club Tijuana training center, with accommodation at the Marriott hotel. The location was chosen because it offers all the necessary structure: training fields, gym, private restaurant and easy access.
The main reasons for the change are:
- difficulties in obtaining American visas for the delegation;
- complicated logistical issues in the United States;
- security concerns, amid current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The team is currently in pre-season in Türkiye. With the new schedule, the team travels directly to Mexico and will only enter American territory on match days.
Tijuana is on the border with California, which makes getting around very easy. The trip to Los Angeles, where Iran is expected to play some matches, takes around 55 minutes by flight — a much more practical option than the previous base in Arizona.
Iran’s opponents will be:
- New Zealand;
- Belgium;
- Egypt.
Iranian fans and journalists celebrated the decision. For many, the change represents greater peace of mind, avoids possible visa problems and increases the feeling of security for the delegation.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
