Iran's federation president Mehdi Taj put it plainly: Tijuana, right on the Mexico-US border, near the Pacific Ocean, is where the team will be based for the World Cup. Arizona is out. The switch was approved by FIFA — and it didn't happen by choice.
The backdrop here matters. Iranian players and staff had not received US visas as of earlier this month, less than four weeks before the tournament kicks off on June 11. That's not a scheduling inconvenience — that's a squad in genuine limbo over whether they could even enter the country where two of their three group games are being played.
Why Tijuana changes the equation
Basing the squad in Mexico sidesteps the visa problem entirely. Iran Air can fly the delegation directly to Tijuana without touching US soil. From there, it's a 55-minute flight to Los Angeles, where Iran face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before heading north to Seattle for a June 26 clash with Egypt.
Taj also noted that Tijuana is actually closer to their match venues than the originally planned Arizona camp — so the logistics arguably work out better anyway. Convenient, given the circumstances.
Taj confirmed FIFA has been asked for formal guarantees over visas, security, and how the Iranian delegation will be treated when they do cross into the United States for matchdays. That request being on the table says everything about the level of trust — or lack of it — between Iran and the tournament's primary host nation right now.
What it means on the pitch
Iran are in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. They're not favourites, but they're a side capable of causing problems in the group stage — provided the off-field chaos doesn't bleed into preparation. Disrupted camp logistics, unresolved visa anxiety, and a last-minute relocation are not ideal conditions for a squad trying to find form before a tournament opener.
Any team carrying this much pre-tournament uncertainty is worth treating cautiously in group stage markets. Iran's qualification odds from Group G were already long. Nothing here shortens them.
Taj's closing line was measured: the new setup puts them 55 minutes from their games. Getting there, legally and safely, is still not entirely settled.
