Iran's national soccer squad departed their base camp in Tijuana on June 14, greeted by supporters five-deep on sidewalks outside their hotel, waving flags and chanting loudly [1, 2]. Fans chanted "Team Melli" and sang in Spanish, "Iran, brother, you are Mexican now," while handing out small Iranian flags, showing cross-cultural support [1, 2]. One supporter declared, "Iran, you will never walk alone. Mexico stands with you" [1].
Players dressed in navy blue polo shirts and beige trousers smiled and waved at fans during the sendoff [1, 2]. Iranian soccer federation President Mehdi Taj was present to see off the team as well [1, 2].
The Iranian community in Tijuana numbers only about 20 people, far smaller than the Iranian population in Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian diaspora outside Iran [1, 2]. Iran’s World Cup base camp moved from Arizona to Mexico in mid-May following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran earlier this year that raised tensions [1, 2].
The upcoming Group G match between Iran and New Zealand on June 15 at Los Angeles Stadium will be the first World Cup game hosted by a nation at war with one of the competing teams since the tournament began in 1930 [1, 2]. The ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict adds a charged atmosphere to the game.
Ahead of the match, Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei and striker Mehdi Taremi held a press conference at Los Angeles Stadium June 14 at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time [1, 2]. On the same day, members of the Iranian-American community held protests near the stadium to denounce human rights abuses by the Iranian government [1, 2].
Iran faces New Zealand in their World Cup opener on June 15, marking a tense but highly watched start to the group stage at Los Angeles Stadium [1, 2].