In February, FIFA announced Iran’s national soccer team would train at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
But after escalating conflict in the Middle East, those plans changed.
On May 23, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj announced the team would instead hold its training camp in Tijuana, Mexico — prompting mixed reactions across Tucson.
Before the decision became official, AZPM spoke with Tucson residents about the possibility of Iran training in the city.
VIEW LARGER A crowd at Zerai’s International Bar gathers to watch a soccer game on June 13, 2025.
Courtesy of Lucas Gebremariam
Soccer scarves and jerseys hung from the ceiling at Zerai’s International Bar on a recent Saturday as a soccer match played on TV.
“You don’t find a bar like this often in most of the country, right? Not even in Arizona,” Reza Ramezani said, as he sipped a beer.
Ramezani is a University of Arizona mechanical engineering PhD student who grew up in Iran. He watched soccer as a kid, but was not aware that Iran was originally going to train in Tucson.
“I’m super delighted to hear that all in all,” Ramezani said. “I mean, it’s a pity. I didn’t know about this. It’s really interesting, but I definitely will make sure that I will be watching them closely once.”
Outside the bar, local soccer trainer Akbar Faqeeri said Tucson was a good destination for the team — despite the summer heat.
“I was literally like ‘the summer in Tucson, this is bad decisions,’” Faqeeri said. “But Kino is super nice. So Kino the way it’s run right now and how those fields are, it makes sense that they would come.”
VIEW LARGER Two kids sit at the bar watching a soccer game at Zerai’s International Bar on May 25, 2025.
Courtesy of Lucas Gebremariam
Other Iranians expressed political concerns. Local government employee Demerie Raymond noted that the defense contractor Raytheon is headquartered less than four miles from Kino Sports Complex.
“Did I have maybe some concern because the defense company is located within Tucson? Yes,” Raymond said.
The New York Times reported that U.S. manufactured Tomahawk missile components were used in a strike near an elementary school in southern Iran. Raytheon makes these missiles, and are involved in an ongoing investigation. The company did not respond to AZPM’s requests for comment.
‘It’s about sharing of culture’
University of Arizona student Farzaneh Talebhaghighi said she had mixed feelings about the team’s possible stint at Kino.
“I was at first I was like, ‘Oh, that’s a good opportunity to see them.’ But at the same time, to be honest, I don’t like this national team that much,” she said.
Talebhaghighi said several players she admired were removed from the roster after speaking out against Iran’s government.
She said the move to Mexico may ease both logistical and political tensions.
“I think Tijuana would be better for Iran,” she said.
VIEW LARGER Farzaneh Talebhaghighi stands in front of the two north fields at Kino Sports Complex on May 18, 2026.
Thatcher Warrick Hess, AZPM News
Former Tucson Soccer Academy goalkeeper Adrian McCune said Iranian players often carry political pressure alongside the sport.
“I’ve watched Iranian soccer growing up, especially at World Cups, they’ve always been a great team,” McCune said. “It wasn’t always clear what the players were feeling and what baggage they brought along. It seemed as though many of them were kind of just filling a role on the team.”
At the Oro Valley restaurant Just Kabab, owner Arash Foroozan viewed the visit as a cultural opportunity.
“So, in general we all know that FIFA or like the Olympics is not just about the games, it’s about sharing of culture. So, we just have to always look at the positive side and what we can share to them, and what they can share to us.”
He said he’d hoped to host the team at his restaurant.
Tucson real estate agent Ari Taleghan disagreed, saying Iran’s government would use the team for political messaging.
“They are now sending a selected few people representing their own team, only their own team, just because they want to use them as a propaganda. And this is not right,” Taleghan said.
VIEW LARGER An empty soccer goal is located on the north campus of Kino Sports Complex on April 22, 2026.
Thatcher Warrick Hess, AZPM News
When news broke May 22 that Tijuana would become Iran’s new training site, Kino Sports Complex director Sarah Hanna said FIFA had not informed her beforehand.
“We were just in a holding pattern waiting to hear confirmation from FIFA. On Monday morning we did have a meeting with them and they explained to us that this was moving forward. We didn’t get into the details of why this occurred,” Hanna said.
Taleghan, Ramezani and Raymond said they were not surprised with the relocation.
“It’s the right call for them to pivot to Mexico,” Raymond said. “Even though I still firmly believe the vast majority of the Tucson community would have been incredibly warm and welcoming of the team.”
FIFA did not explain the decision publicly. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said May 25 that FIFA representatives were concerned about the team staying overnight in a U.S. host city, adding that it would be “no problem” for the team to train and stay in Tijuana.
Al Jazeera also reported that the team’s U.S. and Canadian visa process in Turkey was taking longer than expected.
VIEW LARGER FIFA 2026 World Cup banners were placed on lamp posts at Kino Sports Complex on April 22, 2026.
Thatcher Warrick Hess, AZPM News
In the days before the move was announced, FIFA personnel had been at Kino Sports Complex ensuring the fields met world-class standards, according to Hanna.
“I’m not going to lie and say that we weren’t disappointed,” Hanna said. “We had a great plan moving forward and unfortunately it just was not meant in the cards for Tucson at this time.”
A FIFA representative confirmed the relocation to AZPM but did not provide a reason.
Iran will train in Mexico in early June before playing its first two World Cup group-stage matches in Inglewood, Calif., on June 15 and June 21.