Iran’s national football team is expected to arrive in Mexico on Sunday, where it will be based throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a statement from the team.
The squad will depart Antalya, Turkey, at 15:20 (1220 GMT) on Saturday, June 6, and is scheduled to land in Tijuana at 1:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Sunday, June 7.
The team has been holding a training camp in Antalya since May 18 as part of final preparations for the global tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Iran’s national team, also known as Team Melli, is drawn in Group G and will play its matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a fixture against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The squad is still awaiting United States visa clearance, with uncertainty surrounding travel arrangements linked to diplomatic tensions and administrative delays. Team officials had earlier indicated that visas for Mexico were expected to be issued before departure, with US visas to follow shortly after.
Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said the team would likely transit through Spain before arriving in North America.
Due to ongoing visa complications, Iran has shifted its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in northern Mexico.
Ahead of their departure, the team is expected to play a final friendly match against Mali in Antalya after securing a 3–1 victory over Gambia on May 29.
The 2026 World Cup will mark Iran’s continued participation on the global stage as they seek to advance beyond the group phase in a tournament co-hosted across North America.
