The Iran national football team will arrive in Mexico early Sunday as preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the squad’s United States visas.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Iranian team said the squad would depart Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday afternoon and land in Tijuana, Mexico, in the early hours of Sunday.
The players have been holding a training camp in the Turkish resort city of Antalya since May 18 as they prepare for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Iran has been drawn in Group G and will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21 respectively, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Visa issues have complicated the team’s preparations following heightened tensions between Iran and the United States after the recent conflict involving Iran and Israel. Iran’s football federation had earlier confirmed that the team shifted its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana near the US-Mexico border.
Federation president Mehdi Taj said earlier this week that the players were expected to receive their Mexican visas before obtaining US entry permits shortly afterward, although officials have not confirmed whether the process has been completed.
Taj also disclosed that the team would travel to Mexico through Spain.
Before leaving Turkey, Iran will play a final warm-up match against Mali on Thursday. The team previously defeated Gambia 3-1 in a friendly on May 29.
The tournament marks another appearance on the global stage for Team Melli, which will be seeking to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in its World Cup history.
