Overview
- Iran’s national team said it will leave its Antalya training base for Tijuana on Saturday, June 6, arriving in Mexico on June 7 as it finalizes its World Cup preparations.
- Iranian state media reported that Mexican visas for players were issued, but other reporting says Mexican and U.S. visas remained unconfirmed at the time of departure plans, leaving entry and transfer arrangements uncertain.
- U.S. lawmakers have warned that people with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be barred from embedding with Iran’s delegation, a restriction that could affect staff vetting and accreditation.
- The federation moved its base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana to work around U.S. entry limits, a plan that requires coordinated visas and secure cross‑border transfers for Iran’s scheduled matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Team Melli keeps training in Antalya and will play a closed‑door friendly versus Mali before travel, and the unresolved visa and security talks could prompt last‑minute diplomacy by FIFA and host governments to ensure the squad can reach U.S. venues.