Lower thirds:

00:03 Report by / Thomas Gennoy
00:54 Anselmo Casanova / Tijuana resident
01:20 Said Assadi / Restaurant owner
02:01 Said Assadi / Restaurant owner
02:54 Anselmo Casanova / Tijuana resident

Script:

With some unexpected guests in town, security personnel at this Mexico hotel are 
taking no chances.

The Iranian football team have been caught in the middle of a geopolitical drama that’s 
overshadowed their build-up to the World Cup.

It's ended up bringing them here to Tijuana – and word has spread.

0:20
+++ Anselmo Casanova, Tijuana resident, Spanish +++
"Iran is here with us. They go away to play and come back - it’s like they're OUR team. I hope Iran reaches the knockout stages so we can make history together."

0:32
Born and raised in the city he’s now taken to calling "Tijuairan," Anselmo Casanova 
isn’t the only local who is keen to extend a warm welcome to these surprise guests.

For their troubles, the small crowd is treated to a brief encounter with Iran’s captain, 
Ehsan Hajsafi – a treasured moment for those who feel an affinity with the team.

0:53 starts in off
+++ Anselmo Casanova, Tijuana resident, Spanish +++
"We have a lot in common with what's currently happening with Iran. I have Iranian friends living in Tijuana. They're humble, honest and hard-working."

1:04
It's an exact description of diaspora Iranians like Said Assadi, owner and operator of a
Persian restaurant in nearby Rosarito, for whom the news that his home country’s team 
would be setting up a base camp down the road came as a welcome surprise.

1:20-1:41
+++ Said Assadi, Restaurant owner, Farsi +++
"Of course I was initially very happy about the Iranian team qualifying for the World Cup. Later I found out the team had set up its base in Tijuana, due to visa and immigration problems. I was especially pleased about this, because the team is now very close to me."

1:43
The circumstances have been and remain extraordinary.
But Said is putting politics out of his mind for the duration of the tournament.

After months of uncertainty, it’s now clear that Iran will take their place at the World 
Cup – and he’s keen to finally focus on football.

2:00-2:17
+++SOT Said Assadi, Restaurant owner, Farsi +++
"It's important to keep in mind that this is Iran's national team. It represents the many people in Iran and in the Iranian community. One of my goals is to go into their hotel and, if the opportunity arises, to invite the team to my restaurant."

2:17
That might be difficult given the security situation around the Iranian team, whose every 
move in Tijuana is accompanied by the Mexican National Guard.

Contacts with the outside world have been reduced to a minimum. 
But in a city overlooked by the heavily fortified US border, strict perimeters are nothing 
unfamiliar.

Locals here in Tijuana have embraced their hometown’s surprise new role as an 
unofficial host city.

Like Anselmo, for whom Iran’s unplanned visit is a dream come true.

2:48-3:00
+++ Anselmo Casanova, Tijuana resident, Spanish +++
"Like everyone from Tijuana, we always dream big. But we never imagined the World Cup would come to us, to the city where I was born and raised. It's incredible because it's unique."

It’s not been a straightforward path, nor has it led them where they expected, but in 
Tijuana, the Iranian team have found a host city they can call home.

+++ ATMO ((standing alone)) Anselmo Casanova: +++
"Viva Tijuairan!"

END