News PlatformNG reports that Iran’s national football team will travel to Spain this weekend as part of its journey to the 2026 World Cup base in Mexico, even as the squad awaits visas for entry into host countries.
Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s football federation, told state television on Monday that the team plans to leave for Spain on Saturday, before proceeding to Tijuana, Mexico. “We will obtain a Mexican visa tomorrow (Tuesday) or the day after, and then a US visa will be issued quickly,” he said, emphasizing the federation’s efforts to meet tournament schedules despite logistical hurdles.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Iran, drawn in Group G, is set to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. All group-stage matches will take place in the United States, while the team’s official camp will be in Tijuana, Mexico.
Taj acknowledged that the team’s preparation schedule had been disrupted earlier this year due to conflict in the Middle East. “The situation in the country, and especially the war, has upended all our plans,” he said, noting that warm-up matches, including a planned game against Spain, were canceled.
Originally, the team had intended to base its camp in Tucson, Arizona, but regional tensions prompted a relocation to Mexico. Currently, the squad is training in Turkey, where they defeated Gambia 3-1 in a recent friendly in Antalya and are scheduled to play Mali in another preparatory match.
Financial challenges have also affected preparations, according to Taj. “Our World Cup preparations have been dogged by financial difficulties because of the economic crisis in the country and the sharp depreciation of the rial against the dollar,” he said, highlighting the obstacles faced by the federation in readying the team for the global stage.
Despite these setbacks, the federation remains committed to ensuring Iran is fully prepared for the tournament.
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