This year’s World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July and will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico [GETTY]
The president of the governing body of Iranian football said Saturday that the nation’s World Cup training base has been moved from the United States to Mexico after receiving approval from FIFA.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, announced the decision Saturday in a statement issued by the federation’s media relations official. FIFA has not confirmed the move.
Iran had been scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, but a move has been a possibility because of uncertainty surrounding the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex had no comment.
The federation says the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico, just south of San Diego. This year’s World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July and will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
“All team base camps for the countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said in his 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 Tehran with the respected FIFA secretary general, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”
Iran plays Group G games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium six days later, then faces Egypt on 26 June in Seattle.
Team Melli is appearing in its fourth straight World Cup and seventh overall. It has never advanced past the first round.
Iran’s federation said moving the base camp will resolve potential visa issues since the team will enter the US through Mexico. The president said that the team “may even be able to travel to and from Mexico using Iran Air flights”.
