Iran's football federation has relocated its World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico, following approval from FIFA, according to The Guardian.
The team will now set up camp in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego, instead of the originally planned Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
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The decision was driven by heightened regional uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East and security concerns for the traveling delegation.
Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj announced that FIFA cleared the relocation after high-level meetings in Istanbul and Tehran.
The move to Tijuana is expected to resolve potential visa issues, allowing the squad to enter the US directly through the Mexican border.
Taj also noted that the national team might use Iran Air flights to travel between Mexico and their official match venues.
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Tournament Schedule and Political Context
Iran is in Group G, with matches against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by a fixture against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
The relocation follows a tense period in March when joint US and Israel airstrikes on Iran sparked safety discussions, with Donald Trump noting potential risks to players.
Despite the camp change, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reaffirmed during the FIFA congress in Vancouver that Iran will play its matches in the US as scheduled.
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The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. This marks Iran's fourth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall.
