Iran's Football Teams Leaves a Beautiful and POwerful Message for Mexico as they Depart
Message:
To the noble people of Mexico and to the beautiful city of Tijuana, thank you!
You showed us that hosting a FIFA World Cup is about far more than stadiums and tickets. True hosting is about respect, humanity and dignity. We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana. From this day forward, Mexico will always be more than host nation to us; it will be our second home and our second team. We leave this world cup with pride, but also with one fundamental question: "Did everything apply equally to all the teams in the tournament?"
What we experienced was a series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances that undermined the sense of fairness, an impression only reinforced by the events of the final matchday of our group.
Perhaps one day history will judge who genuinely welcomed Iran's presence at this world cup, and who would have preferred our journey to end much sooner.
For us, Fair Play is not a slogan printed on advertising boards; it is the very identity of football. Yet this tournament reminded us that there is still a significant distance between inspiring words and meaningful actions.
We leave Tijuana believing that football fans around the world witnessed not only the hardship endured by Iranian football, but also the resilience of a nation that refused to trade its dignity, honor, and values despite every challenge.
And we will never forget that those who celebrated Iran's elimination were the same people who had previously celebrated the suffering and loss of innocent Iranian lives. That alone reveals the difference in how humanity is understood.
World cups come to an end. Administrations change, but civilizations such as Iran, Egypt and Mexico, built upon truth, respect, and human dignity, endure through history.
Match results become part of football history. The honor of nations becomes part of human history.
With respect,
Iran National Team, IRI, Minab, 168, Hero
Tras varios días de restricciones, el Team Melli finalmente convivió con cientos de aficionados en una plaza comercial de Tijuana. Jugadores, cuerpo técnico y directivos repartieron autógrafos, se tomaron fotografías y realizaron compras antes de regresar al hotel. #TeamMelli
still hurts but a massive thank you to the people of mexico for welcoming the iran team with love, kindness and respect... their hospitality is unmatched <3 🇲🇽 🇮🇷