Iran’s national soccer team players stand onstage as they are greeted by a crowd during a pro-government gathering before their departure for training and friendly matches in Turkey ahead of the World Cup at Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Vahid Salemi)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-05-23T19:29:09Z<\/p>\n
PHOENIX (AP) \u2014 The president of the governing body of Iranian soccer said Saturday the nation\u2019s World Cup training base has been moved to Mexico from the United States after getting approval from FIFA.<\/p>\n
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement issued by the federation\u2019s media relations official. FIFA has not confirmed the move. <\/p>\n
Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but a move has been a possibility because of uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Officials at Tucson\u2019s Kino Sports Complex had no comment.<\/p>\n
The federation says the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. This year\u2019s World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA,\u201d Taj said in his statement. \u201cFortunately, 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 the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team\u2019s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran plays Group G games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.<\/p>\n
Team Melli is appearing in its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. It has never advanced past the first round.<\/p>\n