FIFA approved Tijuana, a city close to the US border, as the team’s base; matches will be in Los Angeles and Seattle, both in the USA
Iran’s Football Federation said it had obtained approval from FIFA to use Mexico as a training base in Iran. The president of the Iranian organization, Mehdi Taj, announced on Friday (May 23, 2026) that the city of Tijuana – located on the border with the State of California – was chosen as the delegation’s Training Center.
However, the Iranian team’s games in the competition continue to be in the United States, with matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. The choice of Mexico partially resolves the Iranian delegation’s difficulties in obtaining visas for team members.
Although the Iran team reported difficulties in obtaining , the US State Department Poder360 on May 8 that exceptions were made for athletes, coaches and essential team members to obtain authorization to enter the country. The department also said that there is no confirmation of the possibility of the Iranian team playing matches outside the USA.
The Iranian Football Federation reported that the movement between the training center in Mexico and the cities of the matches will not affect the team’s logistics. The Iranian delegation is expected to travel to the country on June 5 for the tournament, which officially begins on June 11.
According to information from the agency Tasnimthe Iranian national team’s training center in Tijuana has 1 main locker room, 1 locker room for the coaching staff, 4 auxiliary locker rooms, a recovery and massage room, a medical room and a laundry room.
Iran is part of Group G of the 2026 World Cup. Read the confirmed matches of the Iranian team in the group stage:
- June 15, Los Angeles (CA): Iran x New Zealand;
- June 21, Los Angeles (CA): Iran x Belgium;
- June 27, Seattle (WA): Iran vs. Egypt.
