The Iranian team, which had initially planned to establish its base camp in Tucson (United States) during the 2026 World Cup, will finally settle in Mexico with the approval of FIFA, which could in principle solve the problems of entry visas to US territory.

“Thanks to the meetings we have had with those responsible for FIFA (…) our request has been accepted (…) We will be installed in Tijuana, near the Pacific Ocean,” said Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, this Saturday in a video broadcast by the Iranian press agency Fars.

“Thanks to this measure, the visa problem will be largely resolved,” added the head of the Iranian organization, while Iran’s participation in the World Cup (June 11 – July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada) is surrounded by uncertainties since the US-Israeli offensive launched at the end of February against the Islamic Republic.

Qualified for its fourth consecutive final phase, Iran must play its first phase matches in the United States, a country with which it has not maintained diplomatic relations since 1980, following the hostage crisis in Tehran.

Group stage games in Los Angeles and Seattle

Team Melli, framed in group G, will debut on June 15 in Los Angeles against New Zealand. They will then play again in the same city against Belgium on June 21, before concluding their group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

“The journey to our two matches in Los Angeles only takes 55 minutes by plane, which is very short compared to Tucson, Arizona (…) It is a considerable advantage. To make these trips we have visa problems, especially with regard to the number of visas available. This problem will be solved soon, as the team will enter Mexico. Maybe we can take a private flight with Iran Air,” added Mehdi Taj.

In Tijuana, a border city near San Diego, the Iranian delegation will enjoy “swimming pools, restrooms, a weight room, all private restaurants, all the necessary amenities, with very good and modern standards,” the leader explained.

Tucson has not received information about the change

Local authorities in Tucson, contacted by AFP, indicated that they had not received any confirmation from FIFA that the base camp, where the team was supposed to arrive on June 5, had changed.

FIFA, contacted by AFP, did not comment at the moment.

The Iranian delegation began negotiations this week to obtain visas in Türkiye, where the national team is currently holding its preparation camp for the 2026 World Cup.

The vice president of the Iranian Federation, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, explained last Tuesday that he was not “certain that all players and staff will receive their visas for the United States,” although he expressed confidence in a favorable outcome.

Iranian officials also held fluid conversations with FIFA. Its president, Gianni Infantino, always assured that Iran would play its World Cup matches in the United States as planned.

jc (afp, reuters)