Iran's national football team left North America on Tuesday after being eliminated from the FIFA World Cup, ending a campaign marked by travel disputes with U.S. authorities, memorable performances on the pitch and the disappointment of narrowly missing a place in the knockout stage.
The team is returning to a country still affected by the ongoing conflict involving Israel and the United States. Despite the early exit, many supporters said the players had given them hope and deserved appreciation.
"Even though they didn't advance, they gave people something to believe in," said Mohammad Modarres, 38, who travelled from San Diego to see the team off.
Painful end to the campaign
Iran drew all three of its group-stage matches, leaving its hopes of reaching the knockout round dependent on the outcome of the Algeria-Austria match on Saturday.
Players and staff watched the match together in the lobby of their hotel in Tijuana. They celebrated when Algeria scored a stoppage-time goal, believing it would send Iran through.
"I've never seen a room celebrate like that," said Kimia Ranjbar, 25, a lifelong Team Melli supporter from the Los Angeles area.
The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Austria scored a late equaliser, ending Iran's hopes and leaving the team in silence.
It was another frustrating moment in a tournament that also saw a late goal by Shoja Khalilzadeh against Egypt ruled out for offside after initially putting Iran ahead.
Off-field challenges
Iran's World Cup preparations and participation were overshadowed by political tensions.
Questions had emerged over whether the team would be allowed to compete because of the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Iran's request to play its matches in Mexico was rejected. The team also had to relocate its base camp from Arizona, while several key staff members were denied U.S. visas. U.S. authorities also refused Iran's request to enter the country two days before its Los Angeles matches, although some travel restrictions were eased ahead of the team's final group game.
During a World Cup security briefing on Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the United States had made several accommodations for the Iranian team and repeated claims that many people Iran wanted to bring with the squad had links to the country's Revolutionary Guard.
"I'm just glad they're done and they're not coming back," Mullin said.
FIFA did not immediately comment.
In a statement to The Associated Press, the Iranian team criticised Mullin's remarks, saying they reflected a lack of respect for international standards expected from a World Cup host.
"The fact that he openly celebrates Iran's elimination says far more about him than it does about our team," the statement said.
The team also questioned the fairness of some logistical decisions during the tournament, although it thanked Mexico and the city of Tijuana for their hospitality.
Mixed reactions among supporters
Members of the Iranian diaspora remained divided over supporting the national team, with some arguing that backing the squad could be viewed as support for Iran's government, while others insisted football should remain separate from politics.
"You don't see someone blaming Christian Pulisic for something President Trump does," Modarres said.
Although the players avoided commenting directly on the conflict, they paid tribute to victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school at the start of the war.
When they arrived in Mexico, players wore pins bearing the number "168," referring to the reported number of people, mostly children, killed in the attack. They also left a message in the dressing room at Los Angeles Stadium calling for peace among all nations.
Supporter Sherry Ghaemi described the gesture as "honourable."
Strong bond with Mexico
Despite the difficult circumstances, the team earned admiration from fans in Mexico.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand's seven-save performance against Belgium and Ramin Rezaeian's equaliser against New Zealand were among the highlights of Iran's campaign.
"They're going home not as losers, but as winners," Ghaemi said.
Iranian-American fan Siavash Khosrowshahi, who travelled from Los Angeles to Tijuana after the team's elimination, described meeting the players as a memorable experience.
He said he even surprised his mother in Tehran by putting Beiranvand on the phone during a video call.
Throughout the tournament, Tijuana residents warmly welcomed the Iranian squad, often chanting in Spanish, "Iran, brother, now you are Mexican."
Local resident Arely Ramírez said the city was proud to show its hospitality to the visitors.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed similar feelings before departing on Tuesday.
"We're leaving Tijuana today, but our hearts stay here," he said.
Although disappointment remained after the World Cup exit, many supporters were already looking ahead to the AFC Asian Cup in six months, hoping Team Melli would have another chance to shine.