Iran Leaves Türkiye Camp for Mexico After U.S. Visa Issues Shift World Cup Base

By Bosphorus News Sports Desk

Iran has left its World Cup training camp in Türkiye for Mexico after U.S. visa issues affecting members of the wider delegation pushed the team's final preparation base away from its original plan in Arizona.

The Iranian squad had been training in Antalya since 19 May before departing for Tijuana, where it will be based ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Anadolu Agency, citing Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, reported that players and technical staff have received U.S. entry clearance, while several administrative and federation officials were unable to obtain visas.

The change narrows the issue. This is not a case of Iran's players being blocked from entering the United States for their World Cup matches. The problem sits around the wider delegation and the logistics of a U.S.-based camp, which had been part of Iran's preparation plan before the team shifted its base to Mexico.

The move also updates a file Bosphorus News had been tracking earlier, when visa talks were already hanging over Iran's World Cup preparations. Antalya had served as the final training block before the squad crossed the Atlantic, but the unresolved access issues around federation and administrative personnel changed the route of Iran's build-up.

Iran will play in Group G against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, with its first matches scheduled in the United States. Mehdi Taremi leads the squad, while Sardar Azmoun was left out of the final World Cup list.

Türkiye's role in the story is limited but visible. Antalya gave Iran a stable camp before the team moved toward North America, while the visa dispute turned the next stage of preparation into a question of delegation access, tournament logistics and political friction around a U.S.-hosted World Cup.

Iran's players are cleared for the football ahead. The camp story changed because the wider delegation was not. That is why the team leaves Türkiye for Mexico with its preparation plan adjusted before the tournament has even begun.

***Sources: Anadolu Agency, IRIB, FIFA, Reuters, Bosphorus News reporting.