FIFA approves Iran World Cup base shift from US to Mexico

Iran will base its World Cup squad in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after football’s world governing body FIFA approved a request to relocate the training camp from Arizona, according to the head of the country’s football federation, as reported by Reuters.

"We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," Iran's soccer federation President Mehdi Taj said in a ⁠video posted on Telegram.

Taj said the decision was taken to reduce visa-related difficulties and confirmed that the team would be able to travel directly to Mexico using Iran Air flights.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran will play its first two Group G fixtures in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

"The ‌total ⁠distance between us and the venue of our games in Los Angeles is 55 minutes by flight," Taj said, adding that Tijuana is closer to the match locations than the previously planned base in Arizona.

Iran has been dealing with months of uncertainty over travel and security logistics ahead of the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Officials in Tehran said this month ⁠that players and staff had still not been issued U.S. visas less than a month before kickoff.

Taj said FIFA ⁠had been asked to provide guarantees regarding visas, security arrangements, and the treatment of the Iranian delegation.

The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19.

By Jeyhun Aghazada