IRAN have relocated their World Cup training base from the USA to Mexico less than three weeks before the start of the tournament.
The last-minute change was confirmed by Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum after the US made it clear they did not want to host the Iranian national team.
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Iran have relocated their training base from Arizona to Tijuana Credit: Reuters
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has confirmed the venue change Credit: Alamy
An ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sparked security concerns around Iran‘s participation in the 2026 World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
Iran will still be forced to play their three group games in the States, with ties against New Zealand and Belgium lined up in Los Angeles before a third match against Egypt in Seattle.
But they will now stay in their new HQ in Tijuana, having ditched their original base in Tuscon, Arizona.
Sheinbaum said: “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico.
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“The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there.
“So they asked us: ‘Can they stay overnight in Mexico?’ And we said: ‘Yes, no problem.’ We have no problem.”
Earlier this year, Sheinbaum even teased the possibility of Iran’s three group games being moved to Mexico.
She insisted it was “simply a matter of Fifa logistics” and it was “being looked into”.
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Donald Trump told Fifa to ‘let them play’ amid concerns over Iran’s participation at the World Cup Credit: Reuters
But there are no signs of Fifa moving the fixtures this close to the tournament.
Doing so would spark a logistical nightmare as thousands of tickets have been sold, with most fans’ travel and accommodation plans already sorted.
US president Donald Trump took a few sly digs at the Iran team when revealing that they would be allowed to play on American soil.
He said: “You know what, let them play. If they win we’ll have to worry about that. I’m going to have to worry about that one.
“Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?
“It would be hard to believe, actually. But let them play, right?”
