Iran move 2026 World Cup base to Tijuana amid United States visa issues | OneFootball

Iran will not stay in Arizona during the 2026 World Cup, switching their base to Tijuana in Mexico after visa difficulties in the United States.

The federation president Mehdi Taj said FIFA had approved moving the camp from Tucson to Tijuana, with the tournament running from 11 June to 19 July.

Officially, the move has been framed as logistical. Iran play their first two Group G matches in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand on 15 June then Belgium on 21 June, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Taj highlighted that the flight to Los Angeles takes 55 minutes, underlining the proximity from Tijuana.

The decision also sits against a fraught diplomatic backdrop. Washington and Tehran have had no relations since 1980, and tensions have intensified following an American-Israeli offensive in the Middle East in recent weeks.

Source: L'Équipe