Iran's World Cup team is training in cartel-plagued Tijuana, Mexico, after being forced to relocate from the U.S. due to visa denials amid political conflict. Eleven delegation members remain banned over alleged links to the IRGC. The team trains under heavy armed guard, a measure underscored by the discovery of a corpse near their stadium. The situation creates a charged atmosphere for their upcoming games in Los Angeles, home to a large and divided Iranian diaspora.
Tijuana training base relocation
- ▪Iran's national football team moved its 2026 World Cup training base to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues and conflict with the U.S.
- ▪A planned friendly match against Grenada was canceled, leading Iran to play a practice match against Club Tijuana's Under-21 team
US visa denials
- ▪Banned individuals include Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj, a vice-president, and administrators
- ▪The U.S. denied visas to 15 members of Iran's World Cup delegation, with 11 remaining banned after appeals
Heavy security measures
- ▪On June 12, 2026, Mexican authorities found a decomposing corpse with "signs of violence" in a car trunk near Tijuana's Estadio Caliente
- ▪The Tijuana area is a known corridor for criminal groups to smuggle drugs into the United States
2022 Qatar protests
- ▪The atmosphere at later 2022 games reportedly changed due to the presence of hundreds of IRGC operatives among the fans
- ▪During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Iranian fans protested over the death of Mahsa Amini
- ▪The current U.S. visa denials for many Iranian officials make a similar protest scene at the 2026 games unlikely
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