KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College,
and Maricopa Community Colleges

Copyright © 2026 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Iran national soccer team moves World Cup base camp from Arizona to Mexico

An elevated, high-angle wide shot captures a soccer match being played in a stadium, viewed from behind a crowd sitting in the bleachers in the foreground.
(Courtesy Pima County)
Major League Soccer at Kino Sports Compex.

On Saturday, the president of Iran’s soccer federation announced the country’s World Cup training base is moving from Arizona to Mexico.

The Iranian national soccer team had been scheduled to train in Tucson at the Kino Sports Complex. Questions surrounding the conflict in the Middle East as well security concerns had raised the possibility of such a move.

Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj says the change was approved by FIFA, but that organization has yet to confirm the move.

The federation says the team will now be based in Tijuana, Mexico — and closer to Los Angeles, where they will be playing New Zealand on June 15. This year's World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

More Arizona Sports + Recreation news

Ignacio Ventura is a reporter for KJZZ. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a minor in news media and society.
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an independent not-for-profit news organization.