A fraught arrival
On Sunday morning, the Iranian squad touched down in Mexico, stepping off a private jet that had carried them from a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. Ehsan Hajsafi, the team captain, was the first to leave the aircraft, guiding his teammates through the terminal as they began a new chapter of preparation.
The move from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, was forced by visa processing problems that threatened to keep several officials and support staff stranded. While most of the playing staff secured entry, the Iranian Football Federation’s secretary‑general and vice president remained without U.S. visas, underscoring the bureaucratic maze that surrounded the team’s itinerary.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly warned against Iran’s participation, citing safety concerns for the players. His admonition added a political layer to what should have been a purely sporting endeavor, yet the federation and the national team insisted on proceeding despite the pressure.
Training in unfamiliar terrain
Before reaching Mexico, the team spent weeks in Antalya, Turkey, where they fine‑tuned tactics on sun‑baked pitches. The relocation to Tijuana allowed them to adapt to a different climate and time zone, a challenge the coaching staff embraced as part of their preparation for the tournament.