Iran's national soccer team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday, June 7, 2024 [1], to begin a training camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The relocation highlights the diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington, as visa restrictions for support staff have disrupted the team's planned preparations in the U.S.

The team departed Turkey on Saturday before landing in Mexico early Sunday morning [2]. The move to Tijuana comes after the squad was forced to abandon a planned training base in Tucson, Arizona. The new facility in Mexico is located approximately 300 miles south of the original Arizona site [3].

Reports said the shift occurred because some members of the team's support staff have not received the necessary U.S. visas [1]. This logistical hurdle forced the Iranian football federation to find an alternative location that would allow the full staff to remain with the players during the final preparation phase.

The training camp serves as the primary lead-up to the tournament. Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the United States later this month [2]. While the players themselves are expected to enter the U.S. for the matches, the inability of the entire delegation to access the Arizona base underscored the ongoing tension surrounding travel and diplomacy.

Officials have not said whether further appeals for visas have been made for the staff members. The team will now utilize the facilities in Tijuana to maintain their conditioning and tactical preparation before traveling north for their opening fixtures [1].

“The team relocated its training camp to Tijuana after some support staff were denied entry to the United States.”

The relocation of Iran's training camp illustrates how geopolitical tensions and restrictive visa policies can directly impact international sports. By shifting the base to Mexico, Iran avoids the risk of splitting its technical staff from the players, though the move adds significant travel fatigue and logistical complexity just weeks before the World Cup begins.