The Iranian World Cup selection will reach Mexico early on Sunday

Iran’s World Cup squad will arrive in Mexico early on Sunday, where the players will be based for the duration of the global football tournament.

“The Iran national football team will depart Antalya for Tijuana on Saturday, June 6 at 3:20 PM (1220 GMT) and will arrive in Mexico on Sunday, June 7 at 1:30 AM (07:30 GMT),” a team statement said on Wednesday.

The Iranian players, who have been at a training camp in the southern Turkish resort of Antalya since May 18, are still waiting for their American visa.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, runs from June 11 to July 19.

Iran has been drawn into Group G and will play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

READ: Artist sues FIFA over destruction of whale mural in Dallas before World Cup

The US military began bombing Iran together with Israel on February 28, leading to war, although hostilities were halted by a ceasefire on April 8.

On Monday evening, the head of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, said the players were expected to get their visas for Mexico on Tuesday or Wednesday «and then a US visa will be issued soon.»

It was not immediately clear whether or not they had received it.

Taj also said the team would fly to Mexico via Spain.

Tensions over the war have complicated the US visa issue, with Taj saying on May 24 that Team Melli was moving its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to the northwestern Mexican border city of Tijuana.

Before the team’s departure on Saturday, Iran will play a friendly final match against Mali in Antalya on Thursday after beating Gambia 3-1 on May 29.

Published on June 3, 2026