Iran's World Cup base in Tijuana operates under heavy armed security

Iran's original plan to base its World Cup squad in Tucson, Arizona at the Kino Sports Complex was abandoned. Following escalation of regional tensions involving US and Israeli military actions against Iran, the team relocated to Tijuana and settled at Centro Xoloitzcuintle. Club Tijuana staff were informed via a FIFA telephone call just two weeks prior, forcing rapid mobilization.

The training complex operates under strict armed security. Open-bed trucks mounted with armed guards and machine guns patrol the surrounding roads every few hours. All access is carefully controlled, with credentials checked multiple times. Club Tijuana personnel work 18-hour shifts to prepare the facility's single natural grass pitch for one of Asia's strongest teams.

The team is housed at a nearby hotel, though information regarding training schedules, filming locations, and media interactions remains restricted due to political sensitivities. The security situation has demanded the highest level of confidentiality and protection across all aspects of team preparation.

Preparation disruptions from relocation and heightened security stress may affect the team's psychological and physical readiness. When assessing Iran's group-stage match prospects for betting purposes, such preparation obstacles should be factored into evaluations of the team's tournament capacity.