While Türkiye established a successful training base in Mesa and attracted thousands of supporters, Iran's planned stay in Tucson collapsed amid escalating political tensions, leaving the southern Arizona city scrambling to recover lost revenue and opportunities.
Türkiye embrace Mesa opportunity
Türkiye arrived in Mesa just weeks before the World Cup after FIFA assigned the national team to the Arizona Athletic Grounds complex.
Because Türkiye qualified through the UEFA playoffs in March, the Turkish Football Federation had limited control over its base-camp selection.
One federation official explained that FIFA effectively presented Mesa as the available option that matched the team's requirements, with financial support attached to the arrangement.
The late decision meant local organisers had little time to maximise commercial opportunities, but Mesa officials still welcomed the chance to host a World Cup participant.
Arizona Athletic Grounds, a sprawling multi-sport venue featuring dozens of outdoor fields and indoor facilities, has rapidly become one of the largest youth sports destinations in the United States, attracting more than 2.8 million visitors during 2025.
Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman described the agreement as the result of years of investment in local sporting infrastructure, while venue officials stressed that the selection highlighted the quality of the facilities available in the city.
Community Day draws thousands
The highlight of Türkiye's stay was a FIFA-mandated Community Day on June 8.
Tickets were free and disappeared within hours, with close to 3,000 supporters attending the open training session at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
The event featured Turkish cultural activities, food and entertainment alongside the national team's training session.
Temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit, forcing Türkiye to delay the start of practice and shorten the session. Nevertheless, supporters packed the venue and created an atmosphere rarely seen for an international football event in Arizona outside of matches involving Mexico's national team.
For local football fans, the occasion demonstrated the growing appetite for elite international football in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Growing football profile in Phoenix
The Turkish visit also highlighted how far football has progressed in Arizona.
Although Phoenix declined to bid for World Cup matches, the region has a lengthy history of hosting major international events, including Copa América and CONCACAF Gold Cup matches.
The city's professional football presence has also expanded significantly through USL Championship side Phoenix Rising.
The club's rise has been aided by notable figures including former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba, who became an investor and player with the organisation.
Phoenix Rising's 2023 USL Championship title further strengthened the region's football credentials.
Türkiye's presence may also help Arizona position itself for future international events, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2031 Women's World Cup.
Iran Pull Out of Tucson
While Mesa celebrated, Tucson experienced the opposite outcome.
Iran had originally committed to using Tucson as its World Cup training base after losing out on preferred facilities in Southern California.
However, worsening relations between Iran and the United States, combined with visa complications and the ongoing conflict between the two nations, ultimately prompted the Iranian federation to relocate its base camp to Tijuana, Mexico.
The decision represented a significant blow to Tucson, which has spent more than a decade developing a reputation as a football destination.
FC Tucson and the Kino Sports Complex have hosted numerous Major League Soccer clubs for pre-season training over the years, while the city has welcomed international matches and professional teams from across North America.
Local officials had invested heavily in preparation for Iran's arrival.
Financial impact hits Tucson
The withdrawal carried real financial consequences.
The Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort had reserved all 241 rooms for the Iranian delegation for a month-long stay. Local estimates suggested the hotel alone stood to generate more than $1 million in accommodation revenue.
Kino Sports Complex officials also revealed that around $75,000 had already been spent on security measures and operational preparations.
In addition, Tucson was expecting a FIFA training-site payment worth approximately $250,000.
Local authorities stressed that the city had fulfilled every requirement and bore no responsibility for Iran's decision to leave.
Officials are now attempting to use the episode as proof that Tucson can successfully host future international teams and major tournaments.
Political decision leaves fans disappointed
One of the biggest disappointments surrounding Iran's departure was the loss of potential fan engagement opportunities.
Southern California is home to one of the world's largest Iranian diaspora communities, and many supporters would likely have travelled to Arizona for public events.
Instead, fans were denied the chance to interact with the team before the tournament.
The contrast with Türkiye's successful Community Day was striking.
While FIFA requires all participating nations to hold at least one public-facing event, there was little indication Iran intended to fully embrace that opportunity even before the relocation decision.
Arizona's unexpected World Cup role
Arizona's involvement in the 2026 World Cup has been unusual.
State officials originally rejected the opportunity to pursue hosting rights, believing the financial commitments outweighed the projected tourism benefits.
Yet despite not staging any matches, Arizona still found itself connected to the tournament through team training camps.
Türkiye's successful stay in Mesa demonstrated the potential value of hosting international teams, while Tucson's experience with Iran highlighted the risks that can accompany global sporting events when politics intervenes.
For both cities, however, the World Cup has provided valuable exposure and strengthened their credentials for future international football opportunities.
As the tournament continues, Mesa can point to a successful partnership with Türkiye, while Tucson will hope that missing out this time ultimately leads to bigger opportunities down the road.
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