Iran’s National Soccer Team Thanks Mexico for Hospitality During World Cup Ordeal
Iran’s national football team left the 2026 World Cup with a deep sense of gratitude toward Mexico, a country that became its refuge after political tensions with the United States forced the team to abandon its original plans.
In a farewell message released before departing Tijuana, the team declared that Mexico would forever be “our second home and our second team”.
A Forced Change of Plans
Iran had originally planned to establish its World Cup training base in Tucson, Arizona. However, political tensions between Tehran and Washington created serious logistical problems. Several members of Iran’s delegation were denied US visas, making it impossible for the team to stay in the United States for an extended period.
Just days before the tournament began, Iran was forced to relocate its base to Tijuana, Mexico. The team arrived in the border city on June 7 and settled at the Marriott Agua Caliente hotel, using the Xolos training facility at the Centro Xoloitzcuintle for their practices.
The arrangement was far from ideal. For their first two matches in Los Angeles, Iran was allowed to enter the United States only one night before each game and was forced to return to Mexico immediately afterward. The US authorities later eased some restrictions, permitting the team to travel two days before their final group match in Seattle, but they were still required to return to their Mexican base after the game.
The Warm Reception in Tijuana
While Iran faced obstacles in the United States, the people of Tijuana offered a different experience entirely. During the 20 days the team spent in the border city, local residents embraced the Iranian squad with genuine warmth. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the team’s hotel to ask for autographs, take photographs, and offer encouragement.
The Iranian team’s official statement expressed profound appreciation for this reception. “They received us with generosity and a genuine hospitality that made us feel at home,” the team said. “Leaving Tijuana is truly difficult,” they added, because they had formed friendships and memories they would carry “always in the heart”.
The Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, also expressed his gratitude. “Our players will leave Tijuana with a very good memory of you,” he said. “The kindness you gave us, we will never forget. I hope that when you come to Tehran, we can receive you there. Our country is your second home, and we will receive you with much love”.
A Message of Gratitude and Support
After Iran’s elimination was confirmed, the team posted a message on its official Instagram account featuring an illustration of two hands shaking, one with a Mexico wristband and the other with an Iran wristband, under a sky lit by fireworks. “Thank you, Mexico, for opening your doors to us,” the team wrote in Spanish. “Your act stayed in our hearts”. In larger letters, they added, “Friendship needs no translation.”
The team also released a longer statement on its WhatsApp channel. “To the noble people of Mexico and the city of Tijuana, thank you,” the message began. “You showed us that hosting the World Cup is not just about stadiums and tickets; it is about respect, humanity, and dignity. We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana. From today, Mexico is not only our host, but also our second country and our second team”.
The team also expressed support for Mexico’s continued run in the tournament, adopting the host nation as their “second team”. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said, “Our heart and our soul stay here.”
Questions About Fairness
While expressing gratitude to Mexico, Iran also raised concerns about the treatment they received during the tournament. “We leave this World Cup with pride, but with one serious question: Did all teams truly enjoy equal opportunities and equal standards?” the statement said.
The team noted that “a series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances undermined the sense of fairness”. They also addressed the concept of fair play directly. “For us, fair play is not just a slogan on advertising boards; it is the identity of football,” the players wrote. “But this World Cup showed that there is still a great distance between beautiful slogans and genuine action”.
A Lasting Bond
The Iranian team’s gratitude toward Mexico was not a fleeting gesture. Hedayat Mombeini, secretary general of the Iranian Football Federation, asked for a bilateral relationship with Tijuana in sports matters. The Iranian ambassador echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the connection formed during the World Cup would not be forgotten.