TA details Iran's rocky road to World Cup in Mexico

According to The Athletic, the Iranian World Cup squad has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, to begin preparations for this summer's World Cup finals.

The Iranian team, coached by Galeno, will play their first match against New Zealand on June 15. Due to flight delays, the team arrived nearly 4 hours later than scheduled, but this was a minor inconvenience compared to the uncertainties they faced during their preparations.

Shortly after 21:00 Beijing time (CEST) on Sunday, the Iranian team arrived at Tijuana International Airport in Mexico. Tijuana is located on Mexico's northern border, adjacent to the United States, and the airport is about a 22-mile drive from downtown San Diego.

However, the journey across this border appears to be anything but simple.

Players and staff flew to Tijuana from Antalya, Turkey, where they had been preparing for the tournament. A small group of excited Iranian fans and media greeted the team at the scene.

Players and officials then boarded a bus behind security gates, waving from the windows to the cheering fans. The team headed to their base in Tijuana, where they will adjust plans for the tournament amid growing logistical concerns.

Hours before the Iranian team arrived in Mexico, there were reports that Iranian officials had been informed that if the team were to play in the United States, they would have to enter and leave the US on the day of the match.

This statement, made by the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, has further complicated Iran's World Cup preparations.

However, for now, the Iranian team is in place, having arrived at their World Cup base, which is very close to the United States.

Sadegh, an Iranian who waited all night in Tijuana for the team to land, said: "I'm so happy to welcome my team. I live in Tijuana, and it's great to support them. I hope we can go as far as possible."

Sadegh also said: "I'm not a huge football fanatic, but it's important to support my team. There's no point in mixing the World Cup with politics."

After their first match against New Zealand next Monday, Iran will play Belgium on June 21, followed by Egypt five days later on June 26, to conclude their group stage campaign.