Iran checked into the World’s Cup’s Sin City to dodge Donald Trump

Two weeks before the tournament kicked off the Middle East nation switched its base from Tucson to vice den Tijuana across the Mexican border as they say they’re the ‘most oppressed nation’

Iran checked into the World’s Cup’s Sin City to dodge Donald Trump. Two weeks before the tournament kicked off the Middle East nation switched its base from Tucson, Arizona, in the US to vice den Tijuana across the Mexican border.

It came after nine members of backroom staff were refused US entry visas for the tournament for doing national service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – aka IRGC – which is a banned terror network in the States.

The team jetted to Los Angeles, US – a country it is officially at war with – surrounded by paramilitary security for its opening match against New Zealand which they drew 2-2.

The players have permission to travel to the US for the game as long as they return on the same day. But the banned officials stayed in Mexico.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei welcomed the fans’ support, but said it had not been matched by those responsible for managing the team’s movements in what is believed to be a strong criticism of the US authorities.

“We’ve spent so much time commuting in the air,” he said. “They didn’t even give us time to recover after the game today. They said we had to leave immediately.

“We do not know why they are returning us. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us, decisions are made elsewhere, we were supposed to arrive two nights before the game and we were not permitted, we were supposed to stay tonight and return tomorrow lunchtime but I have no idea why, and they haven’t told us.

“Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup.”

But Iran was so desperate to dodge tournament co-host America the strict Islamist nation agreed to move its base to a city teeming with bars, gambling emporiums and brothels – all of which are outlawed to Muslims.

A giant advert for a casino sits right outside Iran’s training HQ at local team Club Tijuana’s stadium just five miles from the US border.

Prostitution is legal in the city’s notorious Zona Norte red light district packed with bars, clubs, brothels, sex shops and seedy massage parlours.

Around 30,000 of Tijuana’s 2.4million residents are sex workers. The city’s giant Hong Kong Gentlemen’s Club is running its own version of the World Cup with pole dancers dressed in rival international team colours battling it out for customers.

Sources said Iran ‘may not have picked Tijuana’ as its ‘first choice’ for a World Cup training camp but was relieved to make the switch to escape staying in Trump’s America.

The Daily Star was among a handful of journalists invited to watch the Iranian players – including former Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos – train ahead of their opening match.

At the start of the session the squad put their arms around each other to form a circle on the pitch for a pep talk which culminated in them chanting in unison: “Iran!”

Two Iranian fans jetted 7,600 miles to Mexico from their homeland to cheer them on. The pair dare not give their names on safety grounds, but one said: “It was our dream to see our team at the World Cup.

“We hoped to see them play but we cannot get visas to travel into the US. But watching them train and giving them our support has been so special.”

Translator Camila Enriquez, 25, who is travelling with the pair, said: “It’s a very difficult situation. It’s crazy they have come all this way and cannot watch the match.

“But they were so excited just to see the team at all. At least they have been able to show them they are not alone and have some support.”

Iran football federation president Mehdi Taj – one of those banned from the US – thanked Mexico for stepping in to host the team.

Wearing a ‘Minab 168’ badge to mark the number of schoolchildren killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war in February he told the Daily Star he hoped a peace deal would be agreed during the tournament but insisted the players were focussed on the games ahead.

“Our team is here to compete in football,” he said. “The best possible preparations have been made and the team is in good condition.

“We welcome any agreement that serves our national interests and contributes to peace. But the national team’s focus is entirely on the matches ahead.”