TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) – Less than 150 miles from the World Cup stadium in Los Angeles, the Iranian national soccer team's hotel is heavily secured. The Marriott in Tijuana, flanked by police and members of the Mexican National Guard, has entry restrictions, requiring either a hotel reservation or special permission to access. Despite surrounding tensions, the atmosphere inside the four-star hotel on Saturday morning is surprisingly relaxed, as dozens of fans celebrate their excitement to support the team before their second group-stage match.
Lucas Zarrabi, a 13-year-old fan from Los Angeles, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "I wanted to come down to support Iranian soccer, and cheer for them when they exited the building and make them happy." Lucas attended the previous match, which ended in a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, and he has tickets for the upcoming game against Belgium. Fans have traveled from various locations including San Jose, California, and even Miami, gathering at the hotel just a few miles from the U.S. border.
The challenges faced by the Iranian team have contributed to the urgency felt by fans. Following war outbreak, the team had to relocate its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, as eleven team officials and staff members were denied U.S. visas. Additionally, the U.S. has restricted the team’s schedule, denying requests to arrive two days before games and mandating immediate departure after matches. Abbas Eftekhari, an Iranian-American fan, lamented, "Every little technicality is making it difficult for the team," voicing concerns about the psychological and physical strain imposed on the players.
Iran's soccer federation has publicly criticized these obstacles, stating they plan to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA. Hedayat Mombeini, the secretary-general of the Iran Football Federation, remarked that the political restrictions are adversely impacting the team, yet they strive to persevere with pride. Since their arrival on June 7, fans like Ali Eslami have repeatedly visited the hotel, providing encouragement to the players during their training sessions.
Eslami, who spends time in both Southern California and Tijuana, expressed his emotional connection to the team. "It’s the best pleasure for me... to see the team that I have not seen in 50 years," he shared. Some fans have expressed a fear of backlash from their peers for supporting the team, clarifying that their presence in Tijuana stems from a love for soccer and not political sentiments. Eftekhari also pointed out that the mood during the team's first match, where supporters and protesters clashed, likely affected the players' performance.
As the start of the match approaches, it isn't just Iranian fans creating a lively atmosphere. A group of flight attendants from China staying at the hotel adds to the excitement, sporting jester hats and waving scarves in the country's colors. Local Tijuana soccer enthusiasts are eager to extend their hospitality to the visitors, and the Iranian ambassador to Mexico has emphasized his preference for the matches to be held in Mexico, due to the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Ten-year-old Leonardo Ramirez Lopez from Tijuana is among the enthusiastic fans, clutching his autograph album in hopes of securing more signatures. "It’s a new team that I don’t have experience with how they play," he admitted, but enthused that Iran is already his third-favorite team, following Colombia and Argentina.
After waiting for over two hours, fans erupted in cheers as the players finally made their way through the hotel lobby. The squad, appearing cheerful, stopped briefly for autographs. Before boarding their bus to the airport, each player kissed a Quran, marking a moment of cultural significance and connection. Enthusiastic chants of, "Iran, Iran! Whoop, whoop!" filled the air as fans celebrated their team's efforts before the upcoming match.
