Iran’s national football team will depart for Spain this weekend as the first leg of a complex journey to their World Cup base in Mexico, even though players and staff are still waiting for key entry visas to be issued.

The plan, confirmed by Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj on state television, underscores both the logistical and political headwinds surrounding Team Melli’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

From Spain, the squad is scheduled to fly directly to the border city of Tijuana in northwestern Mexico, where Iran has relocated its tournament base. The team had originally intended to set up camp in Tucson, Arizona, but that plan was abandoned amid heightened tensions following the outbreak of a new Middle East war and subsequent US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Taj said the federation expects Mexican visas to be granted within days, with US visas to follow swiftly afterward. Iran will play all three of its group stage matches on American soil, opening Group G against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle.

The federation chief described the conflict and its aftermath as a turning point that “changed everything” for the national team. Carefully laid preparations, including a high-profile friendly against Spain, were scrapped earlier in the year as security and diplomatic concerns mounted.

Iran have been forced to improvise their build-up, shifting training camps and opponents while grappling with a deepening economic crisis at home. Taj acknowledged that financial constraints, driven by the sharp depreciation of the rial and broader economic instability, have complicated travel, accommodation and match arrangements.

For now, the squad is based in Turkey, where they are attempting to maintain focus on football. Iran recently defeated Gambia 3-1 in a friendly in Antalya and are set to face Mali in another warm-up fixture as they fine-tune tactics and fitness before crossing the Atlantic.

Despite the uncertainty over visas and the shadow of regional conflict, federation officials insist the team will arrive in North America on schedule. The journey through Spain to Mexico, they argue, is a pragmatic workaround designed to keep Iran’s World Cup ambitions on track in the face of extraordinary geopolitical pressure.