Iran football team leaves World Cup after stormy tournament, fans remain proud

The Iranian national team left their World Cup base in Tijuana, Mexico, on Tuesday, ending a tournament filled with political tensions, athletic highlights, and disappointment after barely missing a spot in the knockout stage. The players return to a homeland embroiled in an unresolved conflict with Israel and the United States. However, fans say they should hold their heads high.

“I think even though they lost, it gave people a sense of hope,” said Mohammad Modarres, a 38-year-old fan who traveled from San Diego to bid the team farewell. Iran's World Cup fate depended on the outcome of the final group match between Algeria and Austria. When Algeria took a 3-2 lead in stoppage time, the team erupted in celebration. “I've never seen a room explode like that,” said Kimia Ranjbar, 25, who drove from Los Angeles. But moments later, Austria equalized, plunging the lobby into silence. Earlier disappointments included a late goal by Shoja Khalilzadeh against Egypt that was ruled offside.

Off the pitch, the team faced numerous distractions. Before the tournament, questions arose over whether Iran would be allowed to play due to the war. A Trump envoy suggested FIFA replace Iran with Italy. Iran moved their base from Arizona to Mexico but were denied a request to relocate their matches. The US refused visas to key staff members and rejected Iran's request to travel to the US two days before matches in Los Angeles, only relaxing restrictions for their final game.

At a World Cup security briefing, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he was “glad they're done and they're not coming back” and that he “might have done a happy dance.” In a statement, the Iranian team called Mullin's remarks a lack of commitment to international law. “The fact that he openly celebrates Iran's elimination says far more about him than it does about our team,” the statement read. The team thanked Mexico for its hospitality but questioned their treatment by the United States.

Members of the Iranian diaspora debated whether supporting the team implied support for Iran's government. The team avoided direct comment on the war but highlighted victims of a missile strike on an elementary school that killed 168 people, mostly children. Players wore pins with “168” and left a note in the locker room calling for peace with hashtags #168 and #minab.

Despite the turmoil, there were bright spots: goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves to hold Belgium to a draw, and Ramin Rezaeian scored a brilliant equalizer against New Zealand. “They’re going home not as losers, they’re going home as winners,” said Sherry Ghaemi, an Iranian living in Los Angeles. Siavash Khosrowshahi, an Iranian American, drove to Tijuana to meet players and put Beiranvand on the phone with his mother in Tehran. Mexican fans embraced the team, chanting “Irán, hermano, ya eres Mexicano!” Coach Amir Ghalenoei said through an interpreter: “We’re leaving Tijuana today, but our heart and soul stay here.”