Iran pulled off a comeback win against Gambia in a pre-World Cup friendly in Antalya, Turkey. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Iran has asked FIFA to clarify when tournament visas will be issued following the ​relocation of its World Cup training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, a ‌senior official from the Islamic Republic’s national football federation (FFIRI) ​said on Friday.

The national team came from behind to ⁠beat Gambia 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in the Turkish city of Antalya, days after its tournament preparations were disrupted by a ‌base camp relocation to Mexico following approval from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and FIFA.

Iran is scheduled to play ‌all three of its group matches in the United ‌States ⁠but the team’s participation in the June 11 to ⁠July 19 tournament has been in question since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

The relocation followed diplomatic friction and visa complications, with Iran ​now requiring cross-border clearance for its Group G matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Mehdi Mohammadnabi, first vice president of FFIRI, told Reuters that Iran had written to FIFA seeking a ‌firm answer after earlier applying for visas.

“We sent an ​email to FIFA today and asked them to announce the result as soon as possible, to say on ⁠what day the visas will be issued, because we now need both multiple-entry Mexican visas and multiple-entry U.S. visas,” Mohammadnabi said.

“Based on ‌the latest conversation we had, they replied that the administrative process will most likely be completed this week,” he added.

Mohammadnabi said FIFA had proposed the Tijuana camp and Iran had accepted the arrangement.

“FIFA proposed this camp, and FIFA should tell you what has happened,” he said. “In any case, we have accepted this camp, ‌which is in the city of Tijuana in Mexico, and the team ​is ready to travel, which I think will take place in about a week.”

“We are also surprised and ⁠hope this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,” he added. “The ⁠focus of the national team and our players is only on their training.”

Gambia led through Omar Colley before ‌half-time, but Iran equalised through Aria Yousefi after the break before Ramin Rezaeian and Mehdi Taremi completed the comeback.

Published on May 30, 2026