Iranian Football Captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh Shares Encounter with Armed Gang in Mexico

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, the captain of Iran's national football team, disclosed an incident involving an armed gang during his visit to Mexico. He emphasized that revealing his Iranian identity played a crucial role in how the situation unfolded.

During a tourist trip to Tulum, Mexico—one of the host countries for the 2026 World Cup matches—Jahanbakhsh and a friend faced an attempted robbery by a group of armed individuals. He recounted the episode in a widely shared video on social media platforms.

The masked group, described as drug traffickers, stopped them and demanded a search, creating a tense and dangerous moment. However, the tone shifted abruptly when Jahanbakhsh disclosed his nationality.

He explained, "We really had nothing. I was traveling from the Netherlands, and one of the gang members asked me: 'Where are you from?' I told him: 'Netherlands.' Then my friend said: 'Tell him Iran.' When the gang member searched my friend who said 'Iran,' he laughed and said: 'Iran? Go on, leave.'

Jahanbakhsh noted that the armed group's behavior changed completely upon learning about his Iranian nationality, adding with irony, "It seems the gangs in Mexico really like Iranians."

Iran's Participation in the 2026 World Cup

The Iranian national team is set to compete in the FIFA World Cup for the seventh time, having previously participated in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Despite these appearances, Iran has yet to advance beyond the group stage.

Drawn into Group G for the 2026 tournament, Iran will face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, USA, followed by a game against Egypt in Seattle, USA, between June 15 and June 26.

Training Camp and Logistics for Iran's Team

Initially, the Iranian team planned to hold its training camp in Arizona, USA. However, due to U.S. sanctions and visa complications affecting the delegation, they later chose to base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border.

Accordingly, the team will travel to the United States for their matches and return to their accommodation in Mexico after each game.