Iran's World Cup training base has been relocated from the United States to Mexico with the approval of FIFA, according to Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation. The announcement was made on Saturday, though FIFA has not yet officially confirmed the move.
"All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA," Taj stated. "Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team's base from the United States to Mexico was approved."
The Iranian team had originally been scheduled to hold its base camp at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona. However, the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns had cast uncertainty over Iran's World Cup activities. Taj noted that the new base in Tijuana, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States, could resolve potential visa issues for the team entering the U.S. through Mexico.
Earlier this month, Iranian officials reported that their players and staff had not yet received U.S. visas. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19. Iran is placed in Group G and will play its first two matches in Los Angeles: against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a matchup against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
