During their three weeks in Tijuana, Iranian players developed a mutually beneficial relationship of love and respect with the Mexicans.
Iran’s bittersweet, logistically complex, politically complex and heartbreaking performance in the World Cup provided a ray of hope for Mexico. In Mexico, the men’s soccer team left its base camp in Tijuana to a warm farewell from fans in the border city.
Iran was eliminated from the World Cup after Austria scored a last-minute equalizer against Algeria on Saturday, dropping out of the top eight third-place teams in the tournament.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The match capped off a dramatic 24 hours for Iran. Iran lost control of its destiny into the knockout stages following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, which came to a dramatic end with a controversial VAR check ruling that Iran’s likely winner was offside in the last minute.
The US-Israel war against Iran has determined the logistics for Team Melli’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Concerned about visa complications, Iran moved its base camp from Arizona to Tijuana shortly before the tournament began. The team was forced to leave for Mexico just hours after the final whistle in the United States, despite repeated requests by Iran to move the match outside the country, where it is at war with Iran amidst rare and difficult logistical conditions.
But from the moment Iran first touched down in Tijuana, Mexico welcomed the team with open arms. Fans crowded around the team’s hotel before and after each group stage game, holding posters and waiting for autographs from players.
“I hope our paths cross again.”
The mutual love and respect that developed over the three weeks was felt on social media and by an online audience around the world who cheered Team Melli through their off-field struggles.
The team’s media department also took to social media to thank the Mexican people for their hospitality.
“Thank you for your professionalism and support, and for covering not only our team’s sporting journey, but also the unfair and unsportsmanlike treatment our delegation faced during their stay,” a message posted to X by the Iranian embassy in Mexico read.
“Your commitment to reporting the facts accurately and honestly meant a lot to us.”
The message specifically thanked the residents of Tijuana for welcoming the team with “generosity and genuine hospitality that made them feel at home.”
“Leaving Tijuana is really difficult for all of us. The memories we made here, the friendships we made and the love we received will forever remain in the hearts of everyone on the Iranian national team.”
The message read: “Thank you. I hope our paths cross again.”
“You’re Mexican now.”
Videos on social media showed members of the Iranian national team walking around Tijuana, signing World Cup soccer balls and Panini sticker books and taking photos with fans.
Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandide and Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) Secretary General Hedayat Mombeini met with supporters and media representatives over the weekend and expressed their gratitude for Mexico’s hospitality.
The Iranian embassy in Sarajevo also thanked Mexico for its kind reception of Iran, while highlighting the U.S. mistreatment of the team.
“FIFA should take greater care in selecting future hosts to ensure they are worthy hosts and adhere to humanitarian principles,” the post on X said.
Social media users were moved by the bond that had formed between the two countries and hoped that Mexico would do well in the tournament with the support of Iranian supporters.
Emotions reached a climax on the day of Iran’s departure, when several fans wearing baseball caps emblazoned with the words “Iran, brother, you are now Mexican” waited outside the hotel to bid farewell to the Iranian team.
