Iran players depart unwelcoming World Cup, jeered by US official but saluted by fans
Key takeaways
- In a World Cup co-hosted by a country waging war on their homeland, the odds were always stacked against Iran’s Team Melli, who narrowly missed out on the knockout stage despite being undefeated.
- By: Benjamin DODMAN Fans salute Iran's Team Melli as they leave their hotel in Tijuana, on June 30, 2026.
- The players return to a homeland still in the grips of an unresolved conflict with Israel and the United States.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
In a World Cup co-hosted by a country waging war on their homeland, the odds were always stacked against Iran’s Team Melli, who narrowly missed out on the knockout stage despite being undefeated. Their players departed North America on Tuesday, mocked by a senior official in the Trump administration but saluted by fans at their replacement base in Mexico’s Tijuana.
By: Benjamin DODMAN Fans salute Iran's Team Melli as they leave their hotel in Tijuana, on June 30, 2026. © Gregory Bull, AP The Iranian national team left their World Cup base in Mexico on Tuesday following a troubled tournament marked by repeated spats with US officials, flashes of athletic brilliance and, ultimately, disappointment over barely missing out on a historic place in the knockout stage.
The players return to a homeland still in the grips of an unresolved conflict with Israel and the United States. But their fans say they should be proud.