by ANTONIO DE LOERA-BRUST
After members of the Iranian national soccer team were denied visas by the Trump administration, Mexico stepped in to help—a decision rooted in shared histories.
The Mexican city of Tijuana, right across the border from California, had three teams this World Cup. First, and most obvious, is Mexico. Then there was Haiti, on account of the large Haitian migrant population that has put down roots in the city after being denied entry to the United States. And—last but not least—was the national team of Iran, which made its base camp in Tijuana after being denied entry to the United States other than for the actual games.
Earlier this year, Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup seemed in doubt. With FIFA unwilling to move Iran’s games out of the United States and the Trump administration unwilling to let the team into the country for an extended stay, it seemed unlikely Iran would play its group stage games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Mexico offered the solution. The progressive government of President Claudia Sheinbaum offered to host the Iranian team in Tijuana, which would then travel to its games in the United States just for the day. Scenes of Mexican affinity for Iran followed. Mexicans turned out in large numbers to cheer the Iranian team in Tijuana and locals hosted watch parties for Iran’s games. Mexico’s enthusiasm for the Iranian team did not go unnoticed. Following Iran’s elimination from the tournament, the result of a controversial off-side call disallowing a last minute victory against Egypt, the Iranian team itself acknowledged the extraordinary support it received from the Mexican public, writing “your act will stay in our hearts.”
Mexico’s decision to host the Iranian team in Tijuana is just the latest reflection of a decades-long affinity between Iran and Mexico, rooted in their mutual struggles for sovereignty in the face of U.S. power.
A Tale Of Two Gulfs
Even before the announcement of the Iranian team’s stay in Tijuana, popular sentiment in Mexico has been largely sympathetic to Iran in the war with the United States and Israel. After the illegal surprise attacks on Iran in late February, crowds gathered outside the Iranian embassy in Mexico City in solidarity; the U.S. and Israeli embassies received only protests. President Sheinbaum no doubt spoke for most Mexicans when she criticized the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, specifically citing the U.S. bombing of a school that left 168 Iranian children dead, a massacre which the Iranian national team has also immortalized in the form of pins.
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