Iran will be headquartered in the border city of Tijuana during the tournament while continuing to play its group-stage matches in the United States, according to FIFA’s official list of team base camps.

Speaking at a news conference, Sheinbaum said FIFA representatives informed Mexican authorities that the United States preferred not to host the Iranian squad outside of match days, prompting discussions about alternative arrangements.

“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States,” Sheinbaum said, adding that Mexico agreed to host the team without objection when approached by FIFA.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran following the conflict that began on Feb. 28 between Iran, Israel and the United States. Security concerns and the broader diplomatic environment had fueled uncertainty for months regarding Iran’s logistical arrangements for the tournament.

Iran’s football federation announced over the weekend that the team would relocate its base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana after receiving FIFA approval. The governing body formally confirmed the change when it released the final list of training bases for all 48 participating teams.

Iran is scheduled to open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand national football team in Inglewood, California, on June 15 before facing Belgium national football team on June 21 and Egypt national football team in Seattle on June 26.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 through July 19, will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first tournament to be staged across three countries.

Base camps serve as teams’ operational headquarters throughout the competition, providing facilities for training, recovery and preparation between matches.
Questions surrounding Iran’s accommodation plans intensified as diplomatic tensions escalated and U.S. sanctions against Tehran complicated logistical considerations.

While the U.S. State Department said on Monday that President Donald Trump had made clear that Iran’s national team was welcome to participate in the tournament, it did not comment on where the squad would be based.

The State Department also did not address Sheinbaum’s remarks regarding U.S. preferences for the team’s off-field presence.

Sheinbaum said Mexican authorities were continuing to coordinate with FIFA on operational details ahead of the tournament, which is expected to be the largest World Cup in history following the expansion to 48 teams.

The arrangement underscores how international sporting events can be affected by broader geopolitical developments, even as organizers seek to ensure all qualified teams can participate in the competition.