Iran's squad landed at Tijuana International Airport on Sunday, having been forced to change their base for the World Cup from Arizona due to an ongoing row with the United States15:48, 08 Jun 2026Iran's players have risked angering the United States by paying tribute to the 168 children killed by a US airstrike upon their arrival in Mexico before the World Cup. Iran have been forced to change their base from Arizona to Mexico at the last minute amid heightened tensions over the conflict between the two countries.‌After spending three weeks in a training camp in Turkey, Iran's squad touched down at Tijuana International Airport on Sunday. And they did so while sending a clear and defiant message to the United States.‌Players were pictured wearing pin badges with the number 168 - the total killed when a missile strike hit a school in Minab on February 28. The Pentagon has not released details of the strike, only saying that the incident is under investigation.‌Iran begin their World Cup by facing New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 16, before further group games against Belgium and Egypt on the west coast of the US. They have been told they must enter and leave the US on the same day as matches, while some officials have not even been granted visas for the trip.Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletterAccording to Iranian state television, Iran Football Federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi are among the 14 staff to be denied US visas. Meanwhile, Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters: “We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day."‌Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said: "We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico. The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there. So they asked us: 'Can they stay overnight in Mexico?' And we said: 'Yes, no problem.' We have no problem."US President Donald Trump previously stoked tensions by claiming: "The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don't believe it ⁠is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."‌He has since backtracked on those comments, but tensions remain over Iran's participation in a tournament being hosted by a country they are at war with. Those tensions were clear over the weekend when the row over visas fired up.The Iranian Embassy in Ankara issued a furious statement after US ambassador Tom Barrack commended the US Embassy in Ankara for dealing with the Iran team's visas. “You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves,” their statement read.“Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?Article continues below“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.