Iran Relocates 2026 FIFA World Cup Base Camp from USA to Mexico Over Visa Delays and Security Concerns

Iran’s football federation has secured FIFA approval to shift its 2026 World Cup base camp from the United States to Mexico, marking a significant logistical change driven by diplomatic tensions and concerns over travel documentation for players and staff.

The team had originally been allocated the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, as its pre-tournament and in-tournament training facility. That plan has since been abandoned following a series of high-level discussions between Iranian football administrators and FIFA officials.

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj outlined the process that led to the approved change. “All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA. Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as a webinar meeting in Tehran with the FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved,” Taj said.

A central issue behind the decision was the uncertainty surrounding U.S. visa approvals for the Iranian delegation. Federation vice-president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi acknowledged that the status of travel clearance for the full squad and support staff remains unresolved. “We’re not certain yet that all the players and staff will receive US visas,” Nabi said.

Despite the base camp relocation, Iran will still be required to enter the United States for their scheduled group stage fixtures. According to reports, the team’s World Cup matches are set to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle, meaning the delegation will need to cross the border from Mexico for match days while conducting all training and recovery work on Mexican soil.

The move reflects broader geopolitical complications surrounding the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran and the United States have no formal diplomatic relations, and concerns over the treatment of Iranian nationals at U.S. borders have been a persistent issue in the lead-up to the competition. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had previously addressed doubts about Iran’s participation, publicly stating that Iran would feature at the World Cup despite concerns over their USA-based fixtures.

Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the AFC qualification process. The tournament is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with 48 nations competing across the three host countries in an expanded format introduced for this edition of the competition.

The federation’s decision to proactively seek a relocation months ahead of the tournament suggests ongoing apprehension about the diplomatic and logistical environment surrounding Iranian participation. With the visa situation still unresolved for parts of the delegation, according to Nabi’s remarks, the move to a Mexico base offers a contingency that limits the risk of last-minute disruptions to the team’s preparation schedule.