Mexican football fans have struck up an unexpected solidarity with Iran at the FIFA World Cup, turning up in their droves at SoFi Stadium to cheer on Team Melli against Belgium. Photo: AFP
Sporting his Mexico team jersey, football fan Alan Romero got up at 4am on Sunday to drive from Tijuana to Los Angeles, just so he could cheer for Iran in their Fifa World Cup 2026 match against Belgium.
The 35-year-old is one of hundreds of Mexican supporters who went to SoFi Stadium to watch a match that, on first glance, had nothing to do with them. Yet, the crowd leapt with joy when Iran's Team Melli nearly scored against Belgium's Red Devils, before the referee disallowed the goal for being offside — earning a chorus of whistles.
"Our second team for this World Cup is Iran," Romero said, taking pride in Tijuana managing to host the Iranian team at the last minute, after a series of off-field issues kept them from their US-based training camp.
With the US's and Israel's war against Iran as a backdrop, the Persian squad has voiced complaints of unfair treatment over US visas, travel times and equity with other teams.
