MEXICO CITY — Mexico has deployed enhanced security measures in the border city of Tijuana, where Iran’s national football team is based for training, in an effort to ensure the team’s safety and smooth movement during its stay, officials and sources familiar with the arrangement said.
The move comes as Tijuana, located near the US-Mexico border, hosts the Iranian squad in a high-security environment amid heightened international attention on the team and its political sensitivities.
According to the arrangement, Iranian players have been placed under a level of protection described as higher than that of other teams participating in the tournament, due to what officials cited as “unique security considerations” linked to the team’s international profile.
Initially, Iran was expected to establish its base in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. However, logistical and visa-related challenges reportedly forced the team to relocate its training base to Tijuana, just across the border in Mexico, allowing easier movement between the two countries during the competition period.
Security personnel have been deployed in and around the team’s accommodation and training facilities, with authorities emphasizing that the measures are designed to prevent any disruptions or security risks during the tournament.
Neither Mexican officials nor FIFA have publicly detailed the full extent of the security deployment, but sources say coordination between local authorities and tournament organizers has been strengthened due to the sensitive nature of the team’s presence.
