Iran says thank you to Mexico after being knocked out of World Cup

Iran wasn't going to leave without saying thank you.

Shortly after being knocked out of the World Cup because of Algeria and Austria's 3-3 tie in the last group-stage game to go final, Iran paid tribute to its hosts in Mexico with a post on the team's official Instagram page.

The story featured clasped hands, one wearing a Mexico sweatband and the other an Iran sweatband, in a soccer stadium with fireworks exploding in the background.

"Thank you for opening your doors to us," Team Melli wrote in Spanish. "Your act will stay in our hearts."

Iran was forced to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, at the eleventh hour due to restrictions imposed on the team by the U.S. government. Players and coach Amir Ghalenoei have repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the support they've gotten from Mexico.

Iran trained at Club Tijuana, and fans showed up to Iran's games in Los Angeles wearing the Xolos jersey. There seemed to be as many fans of Mexico as Iran at Team Melli's two games at SoFi Stadium.

"Since we are there, we keep hearing 'Iran, hermano, ya eres Mexicano,'" winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after Iran's second game, against Belgium.

Translated, the phrase means, "Brother, you're already Mexican."

"That shows enough, I think. Wherever we go, we hear this," Jahanbakhsh said. "So that shows how much love they give us and that makes it a lot easier. And I think for everyone else, it feels kind of home when we are there in Tijuana. And them coming all the way here to support us, it means a lot to us."