SAN DIEGO — Tijuana, Mexico, is set to become the Iran national soccer team’s base camp for the next several days, with the delegation expected to arrive on Sunday.

Iran is one of 48 teams competing in the quadrennial FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. The team was initially expected to train in Tucson, Ariz., but amid the ongoing Iran-U.S. conflict, Iran requested a last-minute switch to Tijuana.

The team plans to fly from Tijuana to the U.S. for each of their group-stage matches. Two of these matches will be in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand and Belgium. The other one will be in Seattle, against Egypt.

Uncertainty swirled for days over whether the U.S. would grant visas to the Iranian delegation, but that was answered over the weekend when it was reported that the players had received visas.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, claimed at a news conference on Saturday in Tijuana that about 15 members of the 70-person Iranian delegation had not received visas. He added that, while awaiting confirmation, he believed those included part of the staff, not players.

An administration official said in a statement Saturday that the visas “necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued.”

The official added that “we will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”

Pasandideh said they were not given an explanation as to why some of the visas were not issued. He asked FIFA to intervene.

“The World Cup is a global event that belongs to all, and its success depends on respecting the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and ensuring that all participating teams have equal access to the necessary conditions and requirements to compete,” he said Saturday through an interpreter.

The Iranian delegation is expected to land at Tijuana International Airport early Sunday morning.

Baja California state officials have outlined a plan to provide security to the team and visitors as part of a nationwide operation that had already been underway, since Mexico is one of the host countries.

The team will train at Caliente Stadium and its nearby facilities. The stadium is home to the Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles soccer team.

“They will have full access to the facilities,” said Roxana Verber Campos, director of public relations for Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles.

Although the Tijuana Xolos play their home matches on artificial turf, Verber Campos said that Iran’s team will train on a different field within the complex that has natural turf. Months ago, the Tijuana venue was deemed eligible to host World Cup training camps.

Tijuana was chosen for its geographical location, hospitality and because it has the sports facilities required for the competition, said Juan José Pon, Baja California’s secretary of government at a news conference last week.

The Iranian delegation will stay at a nearby hotel. Pasandideh said the visas allow the team to enter the U.S. for their matches and then leave the same day.

Gen. Laureano Carrillo, Baja California’s secretary of public safety, announced then that about 300 additional National Guard and Mexican military personnel will arrive in the city, bringing the necessary technology to reinforce security.

State and local police officers will also take part in the operation to provide additional support, covering areas such as the airport, stadium and team hotel.

“We are also working with U.S. authorities to strengthen security for both the national team and those on both sides of the border,” Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila said on Thursday. “(We are ensuring) that all logistical arrangements are handled smoothly, so that the Iranian national team feels at home in Tijuana, and that we comply with all the protocols that FIFA has required of us.”

Public safety remains one of the city’s biggest challenges. According to a national survey conducted by Mexican authorities every three months, many residents still feel unsafe. However, Mexican officials have noted some progress in recent months, including a decline in homicides.

“This is an excellent opportunity to show the world how we’re doing in terms of security in Baja California, particularly in Tijuana,” Carrillo said.

On Saturday, Pasandideh said that the delegation did not have any concerns regarding security.

This week, Baja California Tourism Secretary Miguel Badiola told reporters that the public will not have access to any of the team’s training sessions.

During a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. government had “no problems” with the Iranian team and their support staff entering the country. However, he added that they would not allow individuals with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be embedded in their delegation.

A State Department spokesperson said on Friday that the U.S. “is prepared to welcome visitors from around the globe for the largest and greatest FIFA World Cup in history.

“The Department of State is working closely with the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and FIFA to support qualifying national teams’ travel to participate in World Cup events through our visa process.

“At the same time, the Administration will not waver in upholding U.S. law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process. We adjudicate each visa application on a case-by-case basis after rigorous review and thorough vetting to determine whether the individual is eligible under U.S. law,” the spokesperson added.

Iran’s first World Cup match is on June 15 against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

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