Iran’s national soccer team establishes World Cup training base in Tijuana

Iran’s national soccer team, known as Team Melli, relocated its World Cup training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the 2024 tournament. The move places the squad within reach of its group‑stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, and Mexico welcomed the team, providing hotel security, a private chef, and a nearby stadium for training.

Tijuana’s Iranian diaspora is extremely small—about 20 people in a city of two million. The community is split over a pre‑1979 Iranian flag displayed at the city’s second Iranian restaurant, a symbol that could breach FIFA rules on political paraphernalia. Despite the division, members of the diaspora share enthusiasm for the team, gathering daily outside the hotel for autographs and expressing gratitude for the warm reception. The story highlights how a modest immigrant community engages with a high‑profile sports event while navigating cultural and political sensitivities.