Iran have secured FIFA approval to relocate their 2026 World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico, with the team set to operate out of Tijuana rather than their originally planned facility in Tucson, Arizona.

The switch, confirmed by Iranian football officials, was driven by potential visa complications, security concerns stemming from the tense U.S.-Iran relationship, and the need to guarantee a stable environment for the squad ahead of the tournament.

Tijuana becomes Iran's new home base

Tijuana sits just south of San Diego, making it a practical alternative. Iran will fly into the United States exclusively for their matches — scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle — before returning to Mexico for training. Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj revealed the team could rely on direct Iran Air flights to manage those crossings.

Iran face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, then meet Egypt in Seattle on June 26, all in Group G.

Visa uncertainty prompted the move

Iranian officials disclosed that players and staff had not yet received U.S. visas less than a month before the tournament begins — a situation that made retaining a U.S. base untenable. The federation's vice-president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi acknowledged the uncertainty directly.