Baja California officials are scrambling to coordinate logistics and security ahead of the arrival of the Iranian soccer team after FIFA this week authorized the Persian nation’s federation to move its World Cup headquarters from Arizona to Tijuana.
The move comes amid the war in the Middle East and security concerns exacerbated by comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump in which he suggested he couldn’t guarantee the players’ safety.
Iran will now set up camp at Centro Xoloitzcuintle, the home of Liga MX side Club Tijuana, and is expected to arrive by next weekend.
Albolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, publicly thanked President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday for accepting the installation of the Iranian camp and praised the hospitality of the border city, located just a few kilometers from San Diego.
“True friends are known in difficult situations,” he said, quoting a Persian proverb.
Sheinbaum said a FIFA representative had asked if Mexico were willing to allow Iran to base its World Cup headquarters in Tijuana after U.S. officials insisted it did not want the Iranian team to be based in the U.S.
“We said ‘yes, no problem, we have no problem with that’,” she said on Monday.
Officials from the Mexican and Baja California governments, along with representatives from Mexican and U.S. security agencies, were working on Friday to coordinate the arrival of “Team Melli,” which means “National Team” in Persian.
Around 300 federal agents will arrive in Baja California to reinforce the security strategy, along with specialized FIFA personnel and a team from the Iranian delegation.
Pasandideh, in Tijuana on Thursday to inspect the facilities the team will be using, said Iran faces uncertainty regarding immigration permits and mobility just two weeks before the start of the tournament.
“We are the only team that truly has not received support,” he said.
Club Tijuana officials, however, left no doubt that Iran can expect support from the local community, saying it was proud that Iran will have Tijuana as its base camp.
Comunicado Oficial. pic.twitter.com/eU6qUuk1yz
— Xolos (@Xolos) May 26, 2026
Iran had previously asked permission to have its three group games moved from U.S. stadiums to Mexico, but FIFA refused the request. Team Melli is scheduled to play its first two matches on June 16 and 21 in Los Angeles, while its third match will be played in Seattle on June 26.
With reports from Reuters, EFE and Infobae
