Iran team arrives in US after fans’ send-off in Tijuana ahead of World Cup opener

Thenewsmill.com – LOS ANGELES, Iran’s national football team arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against New Zealand, scheduled for Monday.

Earlier, the team received an enthusiastic send-off from supporters at their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico. Fans gathered on a crowded sidewalk outside the team’s hotel and chanted “Team Melli” (Persian for “national team”) as the players emerged individually for a walk to the team bus.

Support staff wearing red Iran shirts distributed national flags to the crowd through green fencing, which fans waved vigorously as the players appeared. The players, dressed in navy blue polo shirts and beige trousers, acknowledged the reception by smiling and waving back. The scene was recorded by fans on their phones.

A supporter held a yellow sign with black lettering expressing Mexico’s solidarity with Iran, stating, “Iran, you will never walk alone. Mexico stands with you.” One young boy, perched on someone’s shoulders, held a FIFA World Cup sticker album opened to the Iran squad page. The crowd also sang, “Iran, brother, you are Mexican now.”

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, was present outside the hotel as the players departed, with many fans following the team bus as it left.

The Iranian community in Tijuana is estimated at about 20 people, significantly smaller than the large community in Los Angeles, which hosts the largest population of Iranians outside Iran.

Iran relocated its World Cup base camp from Arizona to Tijuana amid uncertainty over entry arrangements to the United States. This move followed weeks of concern about whether members of the delegation would be granted visas to attend the tournament.

Iran is set to begin its Group G matches against New Zealand near Los Angeles on June 15, face Belgium on June 21, and conclude the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.