Iran’s World Cup journey hits visa hurdles ahead of Mexico camp
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Iran's national football team will travel to Spain this weekend before moving on to their World Cup training base in Tijuana, Mexico, even though the players are still waiting to receive their visas.
Iran’s national football team will travel to Spain this weekend before moving on to their World Cup training base in Tijuana, Mexico, even though the players are still waiting to receive their visas.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran will play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States but plans to stay in Mexico during the tournament.
According to Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj, the team expects to receive Mexican visas within days, after which U.S. visas should be processed quickly.
Iran has been placed in Group G and will face New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 26.
Taj said the conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, disrupted the team’s World Cup preparations. Several planned friendly matches, including one against Spain, were cancelled.
Because of the tensions, Iran changed its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
The team is currently training in Turkey, where it recently defeated Gambia 3-1 and is scheduled to play Mali in another warm-up match.
Taj also said Iran’s preparations have been affected by financial challenges caused by the country’s economic difficulties and the weakening value of its currency, the rial.
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