{"id":381221,"date":"2026-06-30T21:43:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/381221\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T21:43:11","slug":"tijuana-bids-farewell-to-iranian-team-after-world-cup-exit-our-heart-and-soul-will-remain-here-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/381221\/","title":{"rendered":"Tijuana bids farewell to Iranian team after World Cup exit. \u2018Our heart and soul will remain here.\u2019 \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

For nearly a month, the curb outside the Tijuana Marriott Hotel has been a gathering spot for those cheering on the Iranian national soccer team. The players, coaches and their support staff set up their base camp in the Mexican border city during their World Cup run and became overnight darlings of Tijuana.<\/p>\n

Supporters could often be seen waiting outside the hotel fence in hopes of catching a glimpse of the players before or after a practice at the nearby Xolos stadium, or when they traveled to and from their three group-stage matches in the U.S.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday morning, many of the same supporters returned to say goodbye.<\/p>\n

\u201cIr\u00e1n, hermano, ya eres mexicano,\u201d which translates to \u201cIran, brother, you are already Mexican,\u201d fans chanted one last time as the team\u2019s bus left the hotel.<\/p>\n

Part of the crowd walked alongside the bus for some distance as it headed to the airport on Boulevard Aguacaliente. Among them was Yalda Sepahpour, an Iranian artist who has been living\u00a0in Tijuana for two years. \u201cIt\u2019s so moving,\u201d she said of the city\u2019s response. \u201cI\u2019m still processing it. There\u2019s just been so much love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Iran'sIran’s defender Ehsan Hajsafi and teammates sign autographs for fans as they leave the Marriott Hotel at their Tijuana base camp. (Carlos Moreno \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s World Cup stint ended dramatically on Saturday night after Algeria and Austria tied<\/a> in the last minute, knocking Iran out of the last best-third-place spot needed to advance to the knockout round.<\/p>\n

Amid the conflict with the U.S., the Iranian team had to grapple with visa restrictions for part of their support staff, as well as restrictions on cross-border flights to and from Los Angeles and Seattle for matches.<\/p>\n

Initially, the team was expected to set up its base camp in Tucson, Ariz., but changed its plans at the eleventh hour, opting for Tijuana instead.<\/p>\n

To reinforce security, Mexico deployed hundreds<\/a> of additional National Guard and military personnel, in addition to state and local police officers, to cover areas such as the stadium, airport and the teams\u2019 hotels \u2014 and their presence did not go unnoticed by locals.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed \u201cTeam Melli,\u201d which means \u201cnational team\u201d in Persian, the Iranian squad trained at Tijuana\u2019s Caliente Stadium and stayed at the nearby Marriott hotel.<\/p>\n

\"AA fan carries a sign that reads “Adios hermanos de Iran,” or \u201cGoodbye Iranian brothers,\u201d as they wait for Iran’s national team players to leave the Marriott Hotel. (Carlos Moreno \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Word spread quickly, and the outside of the hotel became a small part of the World Cup for many local soccer fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome might think, \u2018What are those people doing there so early?\u2019\u201d said Tijuana resident Manuel Hurtado, who gave cowboy hats to the Iranian players and staff as souvenirs of northern Mexico around 7 a.m. Tuesday. \u201cIt\u2019s all part of experiencing the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

For weeks, it became common to see children in that same spot with their Panini World Cup albums and soccer jerseys, hoping to get autographs from the players, as well as those who wanted to show their solidarity with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey shut the doors on them,\u201d said\u00a0Tijuana resident Alejandra M\u00e1rquez, who waited outside the hotel on Sunday and said he felt that Iran was treated unfairly because of the restrictions it faced. \u201cBut Mexico took them in, especially since we\u2019re a border region. Here in Tijuana, we welcome everyone with open arms.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Iranian team was granted visas to travel one day in advance for their two games in Los Angeles against New Zealand and Belgium and two days for their game in Seattle against Egypt. However, they were required to return to Mexico on the same day after the games, which the players repeatedly denounced<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"AA young fan carries a FIFA World Cup sticker booklet of Iran\u2019s national team players. (Carlos Moreno \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said when asked<\/a> about it that that was \u201can agreement we had \u2014 to just go ahead and let them go. The game was over, let them get back to their hotel, their base camp where they\u2019re at, they\u2019re more comfortable there. That was just an agreement we worked out with FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mullin also told reporters on Monday\u00a0he was \u201cglad\u201d the team was no longer<\/a> in the tournament.<\/p>\n

Fans in Tijuana showed their support throughout the past few weeks. One time, supporters\u00a0brought a mariachi band<\/a> to wish the team good luck before their first game. On Saturday, hours before the team learned their fate, newlyweds still in their wedding attire and accompanied by an equally dressed-up dog\u00a0passed by the hotel<\/a> and sent good wishes to the team.<\/p>\n

Players and other members of the delegation often approached fans to sign autographs and take photos.<\/p>\n

\"FansFans wave flags as the Iran World Cup soccer team leaves their hotel for the airport Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Tijuana, Mexico. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re leaving Tijuana today, but our heart and soul will remain here,\u201d Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei said through an interpreter Tuesday morning to the fans.<\/p>\n

M\u00e1rquez, a longtime soccer fan, said that she will cherish her memories for the rest of her life. Who knows when Mexico will host another World Cup, or if Tijuana will ever host a team again, she said.<\/p>\n

During her daily press conference on Monday<\/a>, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised Tijuana\u2019s response and described what happened in the city as \u201ccompletely organic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has nothing to do with politics or even relations between governments,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about support, humanity and affection, which is what you see in Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FansFans cheer and chase the bus carrying Iran’s players as they leave the Marriott Hotel. (Carlos Moreno \/ For The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Tijuana resident Ver\u00f3nica Luna visited the team one last time on Tuesday after five consecutive days \u2014 out of love for the team, but also for her husband.<\/p>\n

He is a fan of the Iranian team, but he currently lives in Northern California for work. So, she went to the hotel hoping to say hi to the players on his behalf. She kept him updated with videos of everything that was happening via WhatsApp. \u201cWe want to show the team our love and support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She bought a cap embroidered with the \u201cIr\u00e1n, hermano, ya eres mexicano\u201d chant and got it autographed by several players. She said she can\u2019t wait to give it to her husband the next time they see each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel sad seeing the team go,\u201d she said. \u201cI was already getting used to coming to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t