Iranian concentration leaves the US and goes to Mexico, says federation

Iran's national team will be concentrated in the Mexican border city of Tijuana during the World Cup, after FIFA, world football's highest governing body, approved a request to move the training center from Tucson, Arizona, the president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFiri) said on Saturday.

"Our base will be in the Tijuana camp, which is close to the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico and the United States," said Mehdi Taj, in a video published on the organization's Telegram account.

Taj added that the move would help avoid visa-related complications and that the team would be able to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran will play their first two Group G matches in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

"The total distance between us and our game venue in Los Angeles is 55 minutes of flying time," Taj said, adding that Tijuana was closer to the match sites than the team's previously planned training camp in Arizona.

Iran has been facing uncertainty for months regarding travel and security procedures for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Iranian authorities said this month that their players and coaching staff had not yet received American visas, less than a month before the start of the tournament.

Taj said FIFA had been asked to provide guarantees on visas, security and treatment of the Iranian delegation.

The World Cup takes place from June 11th to July 19th.

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Source: CNN