By Rehan Khan
Director Diplomatic & International Affairs
TIJUANA, Sunday, June 7, 2026 (WNP): Iran’s national football team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday to begin its final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, receiving a warm welcome from local residents and members of the Iranian community despite ongoing visa-related challenges linked to the United States, one of the tournament’s host nations.
The Iranian squad landed in the Mexican border city after completing a three-week training camp in Türkiye. Tijuana will serve as Iran’s operational base throughout the group stage of the World Cup, even though all of the team’s scheduled matches will be played in the United States.
Supporters gathered at the airport and team facilities carrying Iranian and Mexican flags, chanting messages of support and welcoming the players to Mexico.
The reception highlighted the hospitality extended by local residents and reinforced the spirit of international friendship that accompanies the world’s biggest football tournament.
The team’s relocation to Mexico came after uncertainty surrounding U.S. visa approvals for members of the Iranian delegation amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
According to Iranian officials, U.S. authorities granted visas to players and essential coaching personnel only days before the tournament. However, several members of the delegation, including administrative and support staff, were reportedly denied entry permits, prompting criticism from Tehran and concerns about logistical arrangements.
Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh said the team had been informed that players would be permitted to enter U.S. territory only for match-related activities and would be required to return to Mexico after each fixture.
The Iranian Football Federation had initially planned to establish its World Cup base camp in Arizona. However, following uncertainty over visa approvals and travel restrictions, the federation opted to relocate its preparations to Mexico. FIFA subsequently approved Tijuana as the team’s official base camp.
Mexico’s willingness to host the Iranian team has been widely praised as an example of sporting solidarity and international hospitality. Local football fans and officials in Tijuana expressed enthusiasm about welcoming one of Asia’s most successful national teams and providing a home away from home during the tournament.
Iran is scheduled to play its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, where it will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. The team will travel from Tijuana to the United States for each match before returning to its Mexican base.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei’s side arrives at the World Cup carrying the hopes of millions of Iranian supporters and seeking to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in the country’s history.
The situation has become one of the most closely watched off-field stories of the 2026 World Cup, reflecting the complex intersection of sport and international politics. Yet the warm reception in Tijuana demonstrated football’s unique ability to transcend political differences and bring people together.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the welcome extended to Iran’s national team has been hailed by many fans as a reminder of the inclusive values that underpin the global game.
For many observers, Mexico’s embrace of the Iranian delegation sent a simple but powerful message: sport remains a bridge between nations, even during times of political uncertainty.
