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World Cup 2026 | Iran changes base camp location for tournament

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Iran's national football team will establish its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, for the 2026 World Cup, shifting from an initial plan to use Tucson, USA.
  • The move, approved by FIFA, aims to resolve visa issues for U.S. entry, given the lack of diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States.
  • Tijuana offers logistical advantages, including proximity to Los Angeles for matches and modern facilities, while also easing travel concerns related to visas.

Iran's national football team has secured a change of venue for its 2026 World Cup base camp, opting for Tijuana, Mexico, instead of the initially planned Tucson, Arizona. This decision, backed by FIFA, is primarily driven by the complexities surrounding U.S. visa entry requirements for the Iranian squad.

Thanks to the meetings we have held with FIFA officials (...) our request has been accepted (...) We will be based in Tijuana, near the Pacific Ocean.

· Mehdi TajThe president of the Iranian Football Federation explained the decision to move the base camp and its benefits.

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, announced the shift, stating that the request was accepted after meetings with FIFA officials. "Thanks to this measure, the visa problem will be largely resolved," Taj explained in a video shared by the Iranian news agency Fars. The team will be based in Tijuana, a border city near San Diego, which provides significant logistical benefits.

Thanks to this measure, the visa problem will be largely resolved.

· Mehdi TajThe Iranian Football Federation president highlighted the primary reason for the venue change.

Iran is drawn in Group G and will play its first-phase matches in the United States. The team's opening game is on June 15 in Los Angeles against New Zealand, followed by a match against Belgium in the same city on June 21, and concluding against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The proximity of Tijuana to Los Angeles, a mere 55-minute flight, is a considerable advantage compared to Tucson. This arrangement is expected to mitigate issues related to visa availability for travel between matches.

The journey for our two matches in Los Angeles is only 55 minutes by plane, which is very short compared to Tucson, in Arizona (...) It is a considerable advantage. To make these trips we have visa problems, especially regarding the number of available visas. This problem will be resolved soon, as the team will enter Mexico.

· Mehdi TajThe federation president detailed the logistical advantages of the Tijuana location for the team's matches in Los Angeles.

Taj also highlighted the quality of facilities available in Tijuana, describing them as having "very good and modern standards," including swimming pools, gyms, and private dining areas. This move comes amid broader uncertainties surrounding Iran's participation in the World Cup, stemming from recent geopolitical tensions. The team had previously initiated visa application processes in Turkey, where they are currently holding a preparatory training camp.

swimming pools, sanitary services, weight room, all private restaurants, all necessary amenities, with very good and modern standards

· Mehdi TajThe Iranian Football Federation president described the facilities available at the Tijuana base camp.
About this summary

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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