Iran moves World Cup training camp from Arizona to Mexico amid visa, security concerns

Iran's national football team will relocate its World Cup training camp to Tijuana, Mexico, a move approved by FIFA, to circumvent potential visa and security issues associated with the United States. The decision aims to streamline travel and preparations for the tournament co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's football federation, announced the change in a video posted on Telegram. He stated that basing the squad in Tijuana, located near the Pacific coast and on the US-Mexico border, would help avoid visa-related complications. The team will be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.

Iran is scheduled to play its first two Group G matches in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Taj noted that Tijuana offers a shorter travel distance to these venues, with flights to Los Angeles taking approximately 55 minutes, making it a more convenient location than their previously planned camp in Arizona.

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We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States.

Concerns over travel and security arrangements for Iran have persisted for months. Iranian officials recently indicated that players and staff had not yet received their US visas, with the tournament set to begin less than a month later. Taj mentioned that FIFA had been requested to provide guarantees regarding visas, security, and the treatment of the Iranian delegation.

The World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. FIFA had not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the approved camp relocation.

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The total distance between us and the venue of our games in Los Angeles is 55 minutes by flight.