TIJUANA, MEXICO — Iran’s national football team has arrived in Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as a diplomatic dispute with the United States intensifies over visa restrictions affecting members of its delegation.
The squad landed in the Mexican border city of Tijuana on Sunday, where they are expected to base their training camp for the duration of the tournament, according to reports from team officials and international media.
The relocation follows complications surrounding entry permissions into the United States, one of the World Cup host nations. While players and some essential technical staff were granted visas, several members of Iran’s wider support team were reportedly denied entry, sparking criticism from Iranian authorities.
The Iranian Football Federation has described the situation as “politically motivated interference in sport,” arguing that the restrictions are disrupting normal tournament preparations and preventing the full delegation from travelling together as a unit.
In addition to the visa denials, reports indicate that the team may also face unusual travel conditions during the tournament, including restrictions requiring them to enter and exit the United States on match days only. The arrangement has raised concerns about logistics, player recovery, and competitive fairness.
Despite the tensions, Iranian officials confirmed that the team will proceed with preparations from their Mexican base, while continuing to pursue diplomatic and administrative efforts to resolve outstanding visa issues for affected staff members.
The United States government, however, has maintained that visa approvals are subject to security and immigration regulations, stating that all eligible athletes and essential personnel permitted under the rules have been cleared to enter.
The dispute has drawn wider attention within global football circles, with questions being raised about how geopolitical tensions could impact the smooth running of the World Cup, which is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Football analysts note that Iran’s relocation to Mexico is a rare example of a national team adjusting its base camp due to diplomatic and administrative barriers rather than sporting considerations. The situation has also sparked debate about the balance between international security policies and FIFA’s requirement for equal participation conditions for all qualified teams.
Iran is expected to travel into the United States for its group-stage matches as scheduled, although uncertainty remains over whether all members of its delegation will be able to attend matches and official team activities on American soil.
As the tournament approaches, attention is increasingly focused on how host nations and FIFA will manage similar issues involving travel, security, and diplomatic sensitivities, ensuring that political tensions do not disrupt sporting competition.
For now, Iran continues its World Cup preparations in Mexico, navigating both sporting readiness and off-field uncertainty in one of the most politically sensitive tournament build-ups in recent years.
