Iran camp moved to Mexico after US visa delays disrupt World Cup prep

Iran's World Cup camp relocated amid US visa delays

Iran's preparations for the 2026 World Cup are off to a rough start. The squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday after the US delayed visas for support staff, forcing the entire base camp to be relocated from its original site in Arizona (1) (2).

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei did not hold back. "We should have been here last week because a 12-hour time difference needs two weeks of adjusting," he said. "Usually in these tournaments, before technical matters, ethical and human considerations must be respected, which I think for us it was not the case" (1).

The move to Tijuana puts the team in a city where security is a constant concern. Local authorities have deployed the National Guard and are running heightened security measures while Iran is in town (2). The diplomatic backdrop is tense: Iran and the US are scheduled to meet in the group stage, and the relocation has added another layer of friction to an already charged fixture (3).

Fan reactions

The visa delay and the way it was handled have fueled anger among supporters. Many see it as an intentional slight tied to the political backdrop of the Iran–US match. The mood is defiant: if anything, fans say, the disruption will only sharpen the team's edge heading into the tournament. Discussion on r/teammelli