Iran players depart unwelcoming World Cup, jeered by US official but saluted by fans

Summary

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.