Iran’s national soccer team will use Tijuana as its World Cup base camp from roughly June 5 through as late as July 8, bringing a month-long security operation, federal troop deployments, and potential disruptions near the airport and Estadio Caliente. Governor Marina del Pilar and state officials outlined the plan at a Wednesday press conference, confirming that roughly 300 National Guard and Army personnel will reinforce local police, while free public viewing parties on Avenida Revolución will run from June 11 to July 19.
Tijuana is not an official 2026 FIFA World Cup host city. The tournament’s 48 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be played at 16 stadiums, with Mexico’s three host venues in Mexico City (Estadio Azteca), Guadalajara (Estadio Akron), and Monterrey (Estadio BBVA). But FIFA designated dozens of cities across the three countries as official base camps, where teams live, train, and recover between matches. Iran drew Tijuana.
Estadio Caliente Selected by FIFA as Iran’s Training Ground
The Iranian delegation will train at Estadio Caliente, the 33,333-seat home of Club Tijuana Xolos in the Zona Río area. Officials said FIFA and the Mexican Football Federation selected the stadium because it meets technical requirements and offers strong mobility advantages for team travel. No public exhibition match between Iran and Xolos is planned. All practices will be closed sessions.
The delegation extends well beyond the 26-player roster. Cooks, physical therapists, analysts, and other support staff will accompany the team. The full group will stay in Tijuana hotels, with some facilities connected to the stadium also in use. Mayor Ismael Burgueño said the World Cup presence should benefit hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses along the Zona Río and Agua Caliente corridors.
Iran competes in Group B of the 2026 World Cup alongside England, Wales, and the United States. Group-stage matches run from June 11 to June 28, so the team will travel from Tijuana to its match venues during that window. If Iran advances past the group stage, the base camp could remain active through July 8, when the round of 16 concludes.
Plan Kukulcán Deploys Federal Forces Across Tijuana
Security dominated the Wednesday press conference. Baja California’s Security Secretary, General Laureano Carrillo, will lead the local operation under a federal framework called Plan Kukulcán, Mexico’s nationwide World Cup security strategy. Carrillo said a dedicated Baja California World Cup security committee has been meeting for about three months.
Around 300 federal agents from the National Guard and Army will deploy to Tijuana to supplement municipal and state police. Planning meetings have included customs officials, INM (Mexico’s immigration authority), the Navy, U.S. authorities, airport administrators, and FIFA security personnel. Iran may also bring a small security detail, but Mexican authorities retain primary responsibility.
The involvement of U.S. agencies is tied to travel logistics. Officials said the primary plan calls for air travel, but a backup option would route the team through Cross Border Xpress (CBX), the pedestrian bridge connecting Tijuana’s airport to a terminal on the U.S. side in Otay Mesa. CBX handles roughly 12,000 daily crossings, and security convoys through that corridor would likely cause delays.
No public road closure calendar has been released yet. But residents along the route between Tijuana International Airport, Estadio Caliente, and the hotel zone in Zona Río should expect occasional security convoys throughout June. Team travel days to match venues will likely produce the heaviest disruptions near the airport and along Boulevard Agua Caliente.
Baja Food Fest Viewing Parties Run June 11 to July 19 on Avenida Revolución
Alongside the base camp operation, state officials confirmed a parallel public celebration. The Baja Food Fest will offer free World Cup viewing parties with giant screens in two cities from June 11 through July 19.
In Tijuana, the viewing area will occupy Avenida Revolución near the iconic arch between Sixth and Seventh streets. Officials said the setup will include large screens, food vendors, restrooms, controlled entry points, transit support, and dedicated security. If crowds exceed capacity, the footprint may expand. Mexico’s group-stage opener on June 12 against Colombia at Estadio Azteca will likely draw the largest early turnout.
In Mexicali, Baja California’s state capital roughly 120 miles east, the viewing party will run at the FEX (Feria Mexicali fairgrounds) with screens, live music, food, drinks, parking, and emergency services including firefighters and ambulances. Both events are billed as free, family-friendly gatherings.
For anyone in the Revolución area during peak match times, expect heavy foot traffic, road closures on the blocks surrounding the viewing zone, and longer waits at nearby taxi stands and transit stops. Uber and ride-hail pickups may need to shift to side streets.
Border Crossing Travelers Should Plan for Delays
CBX travelers and those crossing at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa should factor in possible disruptions on days when the Iranian team travels to or from matches. Security convoys will likely move along Boulevard de los Héroes and the Via Rápida, two arteries that feed both the airport and border-area traffic. Southbound travelers arriving from San Diego may encounter checkpoints or temporary holds near the airport zone.
The standard wait at San Ysidro already averages 60 to 90 minutes during peak hours. Any added security activity in central Tijuana could push traffic onto alternate routes and increase those times. CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) has not yet released a separate advisory, but the Wednesday press conference confirmed U.S. agencies are part of the coordination.
Baja officials plan to release more specific logistics, including potential road closures and match-day schedules, as the June 5 arrival date approaches. The governor framed the base camp as a chance to demonstrate that Tijuana can manage a global event with professional coordination. The next public update is expected before the end of May.