FIFA paid half of the lease laid out in a generic contract with Pima County in April. This contract allows a national soccer team to train at the facility before the 2026 World Cup for three weeks.
The base rental fee is $213,952 for a 22-day training window in June. The fee includes facilities usage of dressing rooms, training room, gym, pitches, parking and press conference space.
Sarah Hanna, the director of Kino Sports Complex, said FIFA paid half the lease on April 10. On the same day Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated FIFA’s denial of Iran’s application to play in Mexico instead of the U.S.
Pima County and FIFA signed the agreement on Dec. 17, 2025.
The payment of half of the lease nearly four months later assures that a team will be training in early June.
Hanna said that Kino has not spoken directly to the Iranian National Team, but is in talks with representatives from FIFA daily.
Jon Pearlman, president of the FC Tucson club soccer team said that their season is starting soon, with their first game in early May. The team plays and trains on the two fields in Kino North, which in June would be used by the Iranian National Team.
Pearlman said that there will be pitch protection for 30 days. This means that the field will be closed off to the public keeping a contactless soccer pitch before the training starts.
Hanna said that the three week dates in June listed in the contract are not fixed and that, according to the contract, “final dates will be confirmed by FIFA.” Additionally, the contract says that FIFA will pay an extra $9,725 per day past the training dates if the Iranian National Team were to continue playing in the World Cup.
It is possible after the 22-day training lease window that the national team could choose another training site if they progress in the competition, according to Hanna.
Since the contract was signed before Kino was officially chosen as a training site, it serves as a surveying document for any team that trains in Tucson. There is a possibility Iran could withdraw and another team could fill in, Hanna said.
Kino Sports Complex is welcoming any national soccer team that arrives to train in early June.
For Pearlman, and the players on FC Tucson, history is being made for the sport of soccer in Tucson 50 days before the World Cup kicks off.
“The FC Tucson players are happy to share a facility and summer experience with a World Cup team,” Pearlman said.
