Iran squad receives cheerful send-off in Tijuana ahead of World Cup opener

Iran’s national soccer team, better known as Team Melli, has found an unlikely home base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Not in the United States, where the tournament is being co-hosted. In Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the border, where local fans have turned what could have been an awkward logistical workaround into something genuinely heartwarming.

The squad touched down in Tijuana on June 7, 2026, after an overnight flight from Antalya, Turkey, where they had been conducting pre-tournament training. What greeted them was a scene more befitting a homecoming than a layover: fans gathered at the airport and outside the team hotel, waving Iranian flags, requesting autographs, and cheering loud enough to make jet lag feel optional.

From Arizona to Tijuana: how diplomacy rewired logistics

Iran had originally planned to set up its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona. That plan fell apart when US visa restrictions affecting key federation staff and officials made it untenable. FIFA stepped in and approved the relocation to Tijuana, with Mexican authorities agreeing to accommodate the team at FIFA’s request. The arrangement means Iran will operate out of Mexico for the duration of the tournament while commuting across the border for matches in US cities.

Training under armed guard with a warm reception

Team Melli conducted its first open training session on June 11, 2026, at the Centro Xoloitzcuintle facility. The venue is the training ground associated with Club Tijuana, the local Liga MX side whose mascot is the famously hairless Mexican dog breed. The team is housed at a Marriott hotel for the duration of their stay.

The session took place under heightened security, including armed personnel, a precaution driven by the geopolitical backdrop that made Tijuana the team’s base in the first place. Mexican fans showed up to watch training with notable enthusiasm, with the local community appearing to genuinely embrace the Iranian squad’s presence.

Iran’s group stage draw pits them against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.

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