The Iranian football federation has announced that its World Cup training base has been moved from the United States to Mexico, following approval from Fifa. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, confirmed the decision on Saturday, though Fifa has not yet officially commented.
Iran had originally planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, but security concerns related to the conflict in the Middle East prompted a reassessment. The team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. The federation stated that the move would resolve potential visa issues, as the team will enter the US from Mexico.
Iran is set to play Group G matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, followed by a game against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. The team is making its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance but has never progressed beyond the first round.
In March, after joint US-Israel airstrikes on Iran, Fifa had reportedly been unwilling to move Iran's matches. However, Taj said that after meetings with Fifa officials in Istanbul and a webinar with the Fifa secretary general, the request to change the base was approved.
