TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) — A hotel building is located less than 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Los Angeles’ World Cup stadium. Iranian team. The entrance to a Marriott in Tijuana, Mexico, is barricaded and flanked by police and Mexican National Guard members with guns drawn. No one is allowed to enter without a hotel reservation or special permission.
Despite the tensions and challenges surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup, the atmosphere inside this four-star hotel early Saturday morning is relaxed, even jubilant. Dozens of fans gather to watch their team’s players, share their excitement and bond before departing for the second game of the group stage.
Children cheer on the Iranian national soccer team as they depart from the Tijuana Marriott in Tijuana, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Aoun Angueira)
“I came here to support Iranian soccer and wanted to cheer and make them happy when they came out of the building,” said Lucas Zarabi, 13. Monday’s 2-2 draw against New Zealand He has tickets for Sunday’s game against Belgium and is one of several fans who traveled from Los Angeles to stay with the team. Some had flown in from San Jose, California, or even Miami and showed up at hotels less than four miles (6 kilometers) from the border crossing.
Some say it’s important to play because of the unfair conditions placed on teams. After the outbreak of war, the Iranian team was forced to: Move base camp From Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana. Eleven team members and staff did not have U.S. visas. The US also rejected Iran’s request. Arrived 2 days ago game — and teams are required to He will leave immediately after the match.
“It’s the little technical things that make it difficult for the team,” said Abbas Eftekari, who was born in Iran and has lived in the United States for more than 40 years. “I think this is going to be mentally and physically exhausting for them.”
The Iranian Football Federation has spoken out about the failure and said it will file a complaint with FIFA.
“Soccer should not lose its political power,” Iranian Football Federation Secretary-General Hedayat Mombeini said on Friday. He added that the restrictions “certainly have a negative impact on us, but we are trying to overcome these problems with Iranian pride.”
Since then, the team landed On June 7, Ali Eslami visited the hotel gates almost every day.
“This is the ultimate joy for me,” said Eslami, who splits his time between Southern California and Tijuana. “I wished them the best and told them they’re doing great things even though it’s tough.”
He was there again on Friday, waiting for the players to return from an afternoon practice a few blocks away at Estadio Caliente, home of Liga MX side Xolos.
Iranian players participate in a training session ahead of the Soccer World Cup Group G match against Belgium in Tijuana, Mexico, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
“I’ve lived in America for 50 years, and this was the most emotional thing, being able to see a team I hadn’t seen in 50 years,” he said.
Some Iranian fans say they came to Tijuana for the love of soccer and the players, not politics, and fear retaliation from fellow diaspora supporters who supported the team. Eftekari is worried about the atmosphere in Iran’s first match. Where fans and protesters clashed It influenced the players.
“As soon as they see their compatriots raising slogans against them, it has a negative psychological effect on them. But that’s the situation at the moment,” Eftekari says.
With just over 24 hours until Sunday’s midday kick-off, Iranian fans aren’t the only ones contributing to the atmosphere. A group of flight attendants from China staying at the hotel enjoy the excitement while wearing clown hats and waving red, white and green scarves. And Tijuana soccer fans want some local hospitality. Unlike the United States, Iran has diplomatic relations with Mexico, and was considering moving its group stage matches to Mexico, where it has an embassy.
“We love the Mexican people very much, and for us it is the best situation for the match to be held in Mexico,” said Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandide. he said at the time.
Leonardo Ramirez López, 10, a soccer fan from Tijuana, clutches an autographed album in hopes of getting more autographs.
“It’s a new team so we don’t have any experience with how they play,” he says. However, Iran is already his third favorite team after Colombia and Argentina.
Members of the Iranian national soccer team kiss the Koran as they depart from the Tijuana Marriott in Tijuana, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriela Aoun Angueira)
After more than two hours of waiting, dozens of fans cheered as the players finally filed through the lobby. The team smiled and waved, stopping to ask for a few autographs. As each player leaves, he kisses the Koran and presses his forehead against it before boarding a bus to Tijuana’s airport.
“Ylang, Ylang! Whoa, whoa!” fans began crying and singing.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
