Iran’s national football team moves its World Cup 2026 training base from the United States to Mexico, following FIFA approval and amid a diplomatic dispute with Washington. The team is scheduled to leave Turkey for Mexico, with Iranian state media reporting a flight to Tijuana expected to take about 20 hours. Players’ World Cup matches are set to be played in the United States, while the team bases in Mexico for the tournament.

Multiple outlets report that the change is linked to a US visa row. Iran’s squad hands passports to the US embassy for visa processing, and Iran criticizes the United States for refusing visas for some members of the team’s support staff. The dispute escalates days before the June 11 start of the competition, which is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Reporting from Tijuana describes the team’s camp operating as a temporary, improvised base under heightened security arrangements, reflecting concerns about safety and the political context surrounding the tournament.