FIFA Moved Iran Team Training Camp to Tijuana
The soccer federation relocated the team from Tucson to Mexico ahead of upcoming World Cup matches in California.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Soccer
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On May 23, 2026, the Iran Football Federation announced that the national soccer team would move its training camp from the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson to Tijuana, Mexico. The relocation followed concerns regarding U.S. visa processing delays and overnight stays in the host city.
Why it matters
The relocation reflects logistical challenges FIFA faced in managing travel for the 2026 World Cup participants. By basing the team in Tijuana, the federation addressed bureaucratic hurdles and concerns regarding the team's stay in U.S. territory.
The team was originally slated to train at the Kino Sports Complex, but instead, they will hold camp in Tijuana in early June. Iran is scheduled to play its first two World Cup group-stage matches in Inglewood on June 15 and June 21.
The players
FIFA
This is the international governing body for association soccer that oversees World Cup planning and logistics.
Claudia Sheinbaum
She is the President of Mexico who commented on the diplomatic and logistical factors behind the training camp move.
Sarah Hanna
She serves as the director of the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran Football Federation
This is the national organization responsible for governing soccer activities and national team logistics for Iran.
The details
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that FIFA representatives expressed concerns about the team staying overnight in the U.S., prompting the shift. Kino Sports Complex director Sarah Hanna confirmed that FIFA did not provide advance notice of the change, despite staff visits in the days preceding the announcement.
Timeline
February 2026: FIFA originally scheduled the team to train in Tucson.
May 22, 2026: News reports regarding the move to Tijuana emerged.
May 23, 2026: The Iran Football Federation confirmed the training camp relocation.
May 25, 2026: President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the relocation decision.
Early June 2026: The Iran team is scheduled to train in Tijuana.
Season Trajectory
This sudden shift in training logistics demonstrates the volatility of team preparations within the 2026 FIFA World Cup host city agreement. It highlights the influence that non-sporting factors, such as visa processing and international border transit, exert on the tournament's competitive schedule.
The move ensures the Iranian team will train closer to Inglewood, where they are set to compete on June 15 and June 21. Fans following the team's progress must now account for travel logistics across the U.S.-Mexico border rather than the previously expected Tucson site.
The takeaway
Large-scale sporting events often face complex logistical pivots that extend well beyond the field of play. Fans should anticipate that international tournament schedules remain subject to bureaucratic adjustments until teams are firmly in place.
Further reading
For more background on the tournament, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Arizona Public Media.
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