Iran’s Soccer President Announces Move of Training Base
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced on Saturday that Iran’s World Cup training base has been relocated from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. The decision comes after receiving approval from FIFA.
The move is due to security concerns and uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East. Iran had previously planned to train at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson but opted for Mexico following discussions with FIFA officials.
Iran’s participation in this year’s World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will not be affected as the team will still play its Group G games in Inglewood, California. The new location is closer to Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles, and offers all necessary training facilities.
The decision also aims to resolve potential visa issues for Iranian players entering the U.S., with Taj suggesting they may even use Iran Air flights for travel between Mexico and the U.S.
Despite mixed signals from President Trump regarding Iran’s participation in the tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has consistently confirmed Iran’s involvement.