News Focus
- The Iranian squad has moved its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico
- Washington has blocked entry for 15 federation officials, including the football chief
- Players must follow strict same-day travel rules for all three group matches in America
- This marks the first World Cup where a host nation faces a team from a country it is at war with
The Iranian national football team has moved to Mexico. They will prepare for the World Cup in the city of Tijuana after leaving their planned base in the United States.
The squad arrived early on Sunday morning. They had to shift from Tucson, Arizona, because of a serious dispute over visas with the United States.
Iran will play all three group games in America. They meet New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June. They will also face Belgium and Egypt in California and Seattle. However, the players face strict travel rules. They can only fly into the US on the day of each match. They must leave again immediately after the final whistle.
Washington gave visas to the players and key staff on Friday. However, US officials refused entry to 15 other members of the delegation. These include the head of the football federation, his deputy, and the media director.
American leaders say this is for security reasons. They claim some officials have links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran cannot use the World Cup to bring terrorists into the country.
Iran strongly disagrees with these claims. The country’s embassy in Turkey called the decision unfair political interference in sport. They asked FIFA, the world governing body, to step in and help solve the problem.
This World Cup will make history. It is the first time that a host nation will play against a country it is at war with. The United States began military attacks on Iran after the team qualified in March 2025.
The tournament starts on 11 June. The United States, Canada and Mexico are hosting the event together.