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During their three weeks in Tijuana, the Iranian players established a bond of love and respect with the Mexicans.
Iran’s painful, difficult, political and disappointing World Cup run found a silver lining in Mexico, as the men’s soccer team left their camp in Tijuana to bid farewell to fans in the border city.
Iran was were eliminated from the World Cup Saturday, after Austria The ultimate equalizer against Algeria they came out of the group of eight who are third best in the tournament.
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It has been an extraordinary 24 hours for Iran, who failed to control their fate in the knockout stages after a 1-1 draw with Egypt on Friday, which ended in dramatic fashion when Iran’s eventual winner was controversially denied following a VAR check.
The United States and Israel’s war on Iran dictated Melli’s team’s presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Iran moved its camp from Arizona to Tijuana shortly before the tournament, fearing visa problems. In an unprecedented situation, the team was forced to leave for Mexico just hours after their match in the US, despite repeated requests from Iran to move their players out of the country they are fighting against.
But since Iran arrived in Tijuana, Mexico welcomed the team with open arms. Fans crowded around the team hotel before and after every team game, holding signs and waiting for autographs from players.
‘I hope our paths cross again’
The camaraderie and mutual respect that began over the course of three weeks spread to social media and a global audience that supported Team Melli in their unprecedented crisis.
It was also on social media that the team’s media department thanked the Mexicans for their hospitality.
“Thank you very much for your expertise, your support, and for explaining not only the sport of our team but also the brutality that our delegation faced during its stay,” read the message on X, sent by the Iranian embassy in Mexico.
“Your commitment to presenting the information accurately and honestly meant a lot to us.”
The message expressed gratitude to the residents of Tijuana, who welcomed the group with “generosity and genuine hospitality that made us feel at home”.
“For all of us, leaving Tijuana is very difficult.” The memories we made here, the friendships we made, and the love we received, will live on in the hearts of every member of the Iranian team.
“Thank you, and we hope our paths cross again,” the message read.
‘You’re Mexican now’
Television footage showed the Iranian team in Tijuana as they painted a World Cup soccer ball with Panini stickers and posed for pictures with fans.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, and the general secretary of the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) Hedayat Mombeini, spoke to supporters and media representatives over the weekend and thanked Mexico for hosting the guests.
The Iranian ambassador in Sarajevo also thanked Mexico for its warm welcome to Iran, while at the same time emphasizing the United States’ commitment to the group.
“FIFA must be very careful in selecting future host countries, ensuring that they are worthy hosts and committed to humanitarian principles,” it said on X.
Social media users who were affected by the agreement that started between the two countries are hoping that Mexico will go far in the competition with the help of their Iranian supporters.
It happened on the day of Iran’s departure, when several fans wearing baseball caps emblazoned with the words “Iran, brother, you are Mexican now” waited to say goodbye to the Iranian team outside their hotel.
