FIFA confirmed on May 25 that Iran’s national soccer team will use Tijuana’s Centro Xoloitzcuintle as its base camp for the 2026 World Cup, turning the home of Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles into a hub of international soccer activity throughout the group stage in June. The decision, driven by the Trump administration’s refusal to let the Iranian delegation stay overnight on U.S. soil, places Iran World Cup Tijuana operations just minutes from the San Ysidro border crossing.
U.S. Travel Ban Pushed Iran From Tucson to Tijuana
Iran originally planned to base its World Cup operations in Tucson, Arizona. That arrangement collapsed after the Trump administration made clear it would not permit the Iranian federation to stay in the country overnight, citing ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1980, and the current administration has reimposed strict sanctions on Iranian officials and entities.
FIFA briefly considered the possibility that Iran might not participate in the tournament at all. The governing body quickly ruled that out, but the lodging problem remained. Iran’s three group-stage matches are all scheduled on U.S. soil: June 15 against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California; June 21 against Belgium, also at SoFi; and June 26 against Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Tijuana sits roughly 20 miles south of SoFi Stadium by air and about 130 miles by road from Inglewood via the San Ysidro port of entry. For the first two matches, the team can cross the border on match day and return the same evening. The Seattle fixture on June 26 will require a longer trip, likely by charter flight from Tijuana’s Abelardo L. Rodríguez International Airport.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced hours before FIFA’s confirmation that her government was working to make the Tijuana arrangement possible. FIFA then formally designated the Centro Xoloitzcuintle, along with the adjacent CIX Tijuana training complex and nearby facilities, as Iran’s official base. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei and his squad will train and recover there between matches.
Centro Xoloitzcuintle Joins Seven Mexican Base Camps for the Tournament
The 2026 World Cup is the first co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Mexico will host 13 matches across three venues (Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey). But the country’s role extends well beyond match hosting. Seven national teams will use Mexican cities as training bases during the tournament.
South Korea and Colombia will train in Guadalajara. Tunisia will be based in Monterrey. South Africa chose Pachuca. Uruguay will prepare in Cancún. Mexico’s own national team will operate from Mexico City. And now Iran will call Tijuana home for the group stage.
The Centro Xoloitzcuintle, located in the Zona Río district along Boulevard Agua Caliente, is a modern facility that Club Tijuana has upgraded over the past decade. The stadium seats approximately 33,333 fans. The adjacent CIX training center includes multiple practice pitches, recovery rooms, and sports medicine facilities. These resources meet FIFA’s requirements for a certified base camp, which include training fields, medical infrastructure, hotel accommodations, and security protocols.
Zona Río Can Expect Increased Activity and Security in June
Iran’s presence will bring FIFA officials, international media crews, and Iranian fans to a concentrated area of central Tijuana for at least two weeks, possibly longer if the team advances past the group stage. The Zona Río corridor already serves as Tijuana’s main commercial and hospitality district, home to hotels like the Marriott Tijuana, Hotel Lucerna, and Hotel Real Inn, all within walking distance of the stadium.
Hotel demand in the area will likely spike during the June 14 to June 26 window. Residents who live near the stadium or commute through Zona Río should expect increased traffic, road closures for team movements, and a visible security presence. FIFA base camp protocols typically include controlled perimeters around training sessions, though teams sometimes open select practices to the public.
For those hoping to see Iran train, past World Cups offer a guide. Teams at base camps in Brazil (2014), Russia (2018), and Qatar (2022) held open training sessions, usually one per match cycle, that fans could attend free of charge. FIFA has not yet published the specific schedule for Tijuana open sessions, but details are expected in early June.
Restaurants, bars, and shops along Avenida Revolución and the Zona Río corridor stand to benefit from the influx. The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, and Iran’s group-stage schedule ensures Tijuana will see international foot traffic for at least the tournament’s first two weeks. FIFA’s next round of base camp logistics updates is expected in early June, according to reporting by La Jornada Baja California.