Iran relocate FIFA World Cup 2026 training camp from USA to Mexico
Iran were supposed to train in Arizona, USA.
The head of Iran’s football federation announced on Saturday that the apex governing body has authorised a request to move the team’s training camp from Arizona. Now, Iran will base their squad in the Mexican border city of Tijuana for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. President Mehdi Taj stated, confirming, in a video that was uploaded to the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran’s (FFIRI) Telegram channel:
“We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States.”
Iran confirms change of FIFA World Cup 2026 training camp
With only a 55-minute flight to Los Angeles, Tijuana is a more practical location for Iran than their initially scheduled camp in Arizona, according to Taj.
“The total distance between us and the venue of our games in Los Angeles is 55 minutes by flight,” Taj remarked in the clip.
Team Melli’s travel and security plans for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, have been questionable for months. Iran are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt after qualifying for the expanded 48-team competition. They have scheduled games in Seattle and Los Angeles.
The demands, according to Taj, included prompt visa issuance, respect for the national team’s personnel, flag, and anthem during the competition. It also included improved security measures at hotels, airports, and on the roadways leading to the stadiums where Iran’s matches will take place.
Mehdi Taj, the president of FFIRI, was refused entrance by Canada earlier this month in advance of the FIFA Congress due to his claimed affiliation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian military’s ideological wing, which it branded as a “terrorist group” in 2024.
Why have they relocated their training camp to Mexico?
Due to the recent war between the USA and Iran.
Which World Cup group are they in?
They are in G.
Where will they train in Mexico?
The Mexican border city of Tijuana.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.