The international soccer governing body FIFA announced Monday that Iran has officially moved its World Cup preparation facility from an American location to Mexico due to Middle East conflict concerns and security issues.
The Iranian national soccer team had initially chosen a training facility in Tucson, Arizona, as their primary base for World Cup preparations, but decided to relocate following joint military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran that began in late February.
FIFA released its complete roster of team training locations on Monday, showing Iran will now use Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana as their base of operations.
Iran’s scheduled group matches remain unchanged at this time. The team is placed in Group G and will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by Belgium on June 21 in the same city, and conclude group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The proximity of Tijuana to the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego may assist with visa complications when the team must cross into the United States, according to Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation.
Taj first revealed the training camp relocation on Saturday before FIFA provided official confirmation.
“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved FIFA,” Taj said in a statement. “Fortunately, following the requests we submitted and the meetings we held with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting we had yesterday in the Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”
Iranian representatives indicated earlier this month that their athletes and coaching staff had not yet obtained United States visas.
The World Cup tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled from June 11 through July 19.
