Alan Romero, aged 35, was one of the hundreds of Mexican fans who went to SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, to watch a match that didn't look at them at first.

When the Iranian team almost scored on the Belgian team net, the crowd shouted for joy, and whistled as the goal was rejected by the referee for excellence.

"Our second ball at this World Cup is Iran", Romero said, proud of Tijuana's efforts to become the place of the last-minute Iranian team.

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Get out! [ Iran's fans held up a sign of thanks to Mexio before the 2026 World Cup match between Belgium and Iran in Los Angeles. Image: AFP](htttpttpvcdn1-vnexpress.vnecdn.net/2026/06/22/22/204-1-172115924-5636-1722655.jpg?w=120&hhhhqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq===============================================================&&&&&&&&&&&&888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888C8CCCCCCCCC88888CC88888888CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

  • Iran's fans show the sign of thanks to Mexio before the 2026 World Cup match between Belgium and Iran in Los Angeles. Image: AFP*

The Iranian team had already planned to rest at Bangalore, Arizona during the World Cup participation. But they then had to move to Tijuana, the city of Mexico that is adjacent to the American border because dozens of members of the training department were denied the US visa.

In the context of the war between the U.S. - Israel and Iran, the Iranian team raised a complaint about being treated unfairly in relation to American visas, travel time, as well as equal rights compared to other teams. These tensions have created a surprise union between Mexicans and Iranians - evident in Iran's first match with New Zealand, also held in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is a big Mexican cultural city and the majority of the audience promoted Iran. The Mehdi Taremi of Iran expressed gratitude to Mexican fans. "We expect the next two matches, we hope they will continue to support us like this," he said after the match.

"The support from Mexican fans is incredible", Art Eftekhari, Iranian-American YouTuber, has channels on the Iranian national team, commenting.

Get out! [The Mexican wave Iranian flag salutes the Iranian team in Tijuana. Image: Reuters](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAACH5BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACACACATATATATAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATATATAEEEAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Fan waving the Iranian flag outside the hotel team's re-entry at Tijuana on 14/6. Image: Reuters

The reception from the Iranian community in Los Angeles was also quite contrary: many of the people in the audience cheered up the players, but yelled as the Iranian national anthems resounded, protesting the Islamic Republic.

"I try not to notice that, I just focus on the game," Eretekhari said. "The warm welcome of Mexican fans makes us forget what's happening on the lawn".

For Latin Americans, those obstacles caused them to speak up for Iranian players.

"I think they're being treated unfairly," said Nikkole Martinez, a 24-year-old Mexican fan who lives in the Los Angeles area. "They're just young men trying to play the sport they love, which has nothing to do with their government. They should be treated just and equal as everyone else".

Get out! [ Mehdi Tarremi's team's predecessor signed to fans outside Marriott Hotel in Tijuana, Mexico. Image: AFP](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAACH5BAAAAAAAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACACACAAAAEAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATATATATAAEAAAAAAAAEAEAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  • Mehdi Taremi of the Iranian team signed to fans outside Marriott Hotel in Tijuana, Mexico. Image: AFP*

The Iranian team spoke out against it because the Belgian team was allowed to enter Los Angeles from June 19, but Iran was not allowed to enter the United States until June 20. The game of June 21 ended with a 0-0 score.

"In this match, they are at a disadvantage. They absolutely don't deserve it," Martinez said, saying she liked cheering for weaker teams.

Another cheerleader from Tijuana, Jaeno Pina, 25 years old, admitted he did not know any Iranian players. But he also agreed that Iran was treated unfairly.

"The Belgian players are well rested, while the Iranian team is not, it is a major disadvantage", Pina said. "That's why I support them, because the World Cup is increasingly political".

Tea Lan (Isin AFP)

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The time predicted remains: 21 days

[! [The difficult course of the Iranian team on U.S. soil](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQAAAACH5BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAAAAAAACTATATATATATATAEAEAEAEAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAEEEEEAAAAAEEAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

#[citation course of the Iranian team on US land] (htttptshnvvexpress.net/nin-nin-nian-doi-doi-tran-tren-dat-my-my-my-gold-5087637.html)

[President politics, visa issues and obstacles in the move are making it difficult for the Iran team's World Cup competition.][htpts ://nvexpress.net/nub-nin-nan-doi-tin-it-in-it-it-it-dat-my-my/508737.html] [6](htttttsnvexpress.net/tal-nian-nan-doi-tran-tren-dat-my-5087637.html#box comment vne)

[1][citation needed][citation needed][citation of the World Cup, lazy house](data:image/gif;base64, R0lGODlHAQABAAACH5BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAAAAAAAAACAACAAACAAAACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAEEEEEEAEEAEAEAAAEAEEEAEAEAEAEAEAAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEAEEAEEAEAEAEAA

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[The Japanese society is spreading the ironic picture of the men in the country collecting garbage in the World Cup but avoiding cleaning houses and child care.][citation needed][citation needed][citation needed] [1][183](htttts/vxexpress.net/cdv-nam-nam-nat-ban-bi-che-sex-viec-viec-htm#box comment vne)

[! [ The mathematician predicts the Netherlands Championship World Cup 2026](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAACH5BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAAATATATATAAEAEAEAEAEAAAAAAAAEAAAEAEAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEAEAAAAAEAAEAAAAAAAAEAEAAAAAAAAAAAEAEAEAAAAAAEAAEAAEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

(2006)# [The Dutch predictor of the World Cup 2026] (htttpts ://nvnexpress.net/hn-toan-hoc-doc-doan-lan-vo-dich-world-2026/5087352.)

[Joachim Klement, the mathematician once correctly guesses the 2014 World Cup Championships, 2018 and 2022, assessing that the Netherlands will win at the tournament this year.] (htptpts ://nvreexpress.net/hn/toan-hoc-doan-ha-lan-vo-dich-world-world-ccolate-2026/5087352.00) [53] (htttts ://nvexpress.net/hn/toan-hoc-doan-ha-lan-vo-dich-world-cup-2026-5087352.hml#box comment vne)