Iran’s national soccer team will play World Cup group matches in the United States, but its training base has been moved to Tijuana, Mexico, near San Diego. The move was announced by Iran’s soccer federation and formally confirmed by FIFA. Mexico’s president said a FIFA representative indicated the United States did not want the team to stay overnight on U.S. territory, and Mexico agreed to allow overnight stays in Mexico. Iran’s matches are scheduled in Inglewood, California, and Seattle, Washington. The base was previously planned for Tucson, Arizona, but security concerns and uncertainty related to the war in Iran contributed to the relocation. FIFA released official base camp site lists for all 48 teams.
"“The United States doesn't want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum told reporters. She said a FIFA representative had then asked, “Can they stay overnight in Mexico?” “And we said, 'Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that',” she said."
"Iran's soccer team is slated to play matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and against Belgium six days later, before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Teams use base camps to train before and after matches. This year's World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico."
"Before the war broke out, the team was originally planned to set up its base in Tucson, Arizona. But with tensions simmering, Iran's team moved its base to Tijuana in Mexico, Sheinbaum said, confirming an announcement by the Iranian federation over the weekend. The federation said the Iranians had received approval from FIFA, which made the move official on Monday when it released the lists of all 48 base camp sites."
"The possibility of a move had simmered for months in the uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. U.S. sanctions on Iran were likely to only make the team's stay in the U.S. more complex."
#iran-national-soccer-team #world-cup-2026 #fifa-base-camp-approvals #us-mexico-travel-arrangements #middle-east-conflict-and-security
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