Come inside Iran's World Cup hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, where fans turn up to cheer

AI Summary

Iran's World Cup team is housed in a heavily secured hotel in Tijuana, close to the local World Cup stadium. Despite regional tensions, fans and team members enjoy a relaxed and jubilant atmosphere in their accommodations.

Less than 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Los Angeles' World Cup stadium sits the hotel housing Iran's team. The entrance to the Marriott in Tijuana, Mexico, is barricaded, flanked by police and members of the Mexican National Guard, guns held close. No one enters without a hotel reservation or special pass. Despite the tensions and challenges surrounding Iran's participation in the World Cup, early Saturday morning finds the mood inside the four-star hotel relaxed, even jubilant.