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.
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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.
On Tuesday morning, many of the same supporters returned to say goodbye.
“Irán, hermano, ya eres mexicano,” which translates to “Iran, brother, you are already Mexican,” fans chanted one last time as the team’s bus left the hotel.
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 in Tijuana for two years. “It’s so moving,” she said of the city’s response. “I’m still processing it. There’s just been so much love.”
Iran’s World Cup stint ended dramatically on Saturday night after Algeria and Austria tied in the last minute, knocking Iran out of the last best-third-place spot needed to advance to the knockout round.
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.
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.
To reinforce security, Mexico deployed hundreds 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’ hotels — and their presence did not go unnoticed by locals.
Nicknamed “Team Melli,” which means “national team” in Persian, the Iranian squad trained at Tijuana’s Caliente Stadium and stayed at the nearby Marriott hotel.
Word spread quickly, and the outside of the hotel became a small part of the World Cup for many local soccer fans.
“Some might think, ‘What are those people doing there so early?’” 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. “It’s all part of experiencing the World Cup.”
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.
“They shut the doors on them,” said Tijuana resident Alejandra Márquez, who waited outside the hotel on Sunday and said he felt that Iran was treated unfairly because of the restrictions it faced. “But Mexico took them in, especially since we’re a border region. Here in Tijuana, we welcome everyone with open arms.”
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.
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said when asked about it that that was “an agreement we had — to just go ahead and let them go. The game was over, let them get back to their hotel, their base camp where they’re at, they’re more comfortable there. That was just an agreement we worked out with FIFA.”
Mullin also told reporters on Monday he was “glad” the team was no longer in the tournament.
Fans in Tijuana showed their support throughout the past few weeks. One time, supporters brought a mariachi band 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 passed by the hotel and sent good wishes to the team.
Players and other members of the delegation often approached fans to sign autographs and take photos.
“We’re leaving Tijuana today, but our heart and soul will remain here,” Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei said through an interpreter Tuesday morning to the fans.
Márquez, 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.
During her daily press conference on Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised Tijuana’s response and described what happened in the city as “completely organic.”
“It has nothing to do with politics or even relations between governments,” she said. “It’s about support, humanity and affection, which is what you see in Mexico.”
Tijuana resident Verónica Luna visited the team one last time on Tuesday after five consecutive days — out of love for the team, but also for her husband.
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. “We want to show the team our love and support,” she said.
She bought a cap embroidered with the “Irán, hermano, ya eres mexicano” chant and got it autographed by several players. She said she can’t wait to give it to her husband the next time they see each other.
“I feel sad seeing the team go,” she said. “I was already getting used to coming to see them.”
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