Iran’s national soccer team relocated its World Cup 2026 base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, due to political tensions between Tehran and Washington, forcing the team to enter the U.S. just one day before matches, and two days before their final group game in Seattle [1, 2, 3].

On June 27, Iran was eliminated in the group stage after a final match against Egypt where a late Iranian goal was disallowed by a close offside decision via VAR. Shortly afterward, Austria’s late equalizer against Algeria confirmed Iran’s exit as one of the eight best third-placed teams [3].

Following their exit, Iran publicly thanked the people of Tijuana and Mexico for their hospitality, calling Mexico their “second home and our second team.” They praised the kindness and respect shown by Mexican fans, who warmly greeted the team before matches and gave a warm send-off when Iran departed Tijuana on July 1 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The Iranian team said, "True hosting is about respect, humanity, and dignity. We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana" and expressed gratitude on social media for Mexico’s professionalism and support, which also covered the challenges Iran faced during the tournament [1, 3].

Coach Amir Ghalenoei and captain Mehdi Taremi criticized the fairness of tournament conditions and questioned whether all teams competed under equal standards, though they did not directly name FIFA or U.S. officials. The team lamented a gap between the ideal of fair play and the reality they experienced, saying, "For us, Fair Play is not a slogan printed on advertising boards; it is the very identity of football" [1, 2]. Iran also praised Egypt for their conduct during the match. [1, 2]

Due to logistical restrictions, Iran was required to return to their Mexican base after each U.S. match and depart soon after games ended, limiting their presence in the U.S. [3].

The Iranian embassy in Mexico thanked Mexicans for not only supporting the team’s sporting journey but also for acknowledging the “unfair and unsportsmanlike treatment” faced during the World Cup stay [3]. Iran's coach said the bond between Iran and Mexico “had been ‘written into history,’” reflecting the close ties forged during the tournament [4].

Iran departed Tijuana on July 1 after a warm farewell from Mexican fans, concluding their 2026 World Cup run.