Steve Inskeep

Even the baby Jesus at the Metropolitan Cathedral is wearing the whole Mexico kit right down to the socks.

It's a celebration, but it's also tense.

As we said, the world is watching and everyone who has beef with the Mexican government is out on the streets.

The families of the missing, the workers of the electric company, sex workers.

One of the big teachers' unions has set up a protest camp on the outskirts of the main square here, and they're threatening to take their protests to the legendary Estadio Azteca, where the opening game is being played.

So today might be eventful on and off the pitch.

Yeah, I mean, this is the first time a host country is welcoming a team from a country they are at war with.

That's Iran.

which will play in L.A.

next week.

Iran's national team was actually supposed to set up camp in Tucson, Arizona, but the U.S.

basically said they weren't welcome, so they had to move their camp south of the border to Tijuana.

I was just there, and the team is holed up at a Marriott hotel.

The players would only leave to go train.

They didn't talk to reporters, but one of their super fans, Reza Mansour,

who is staying with the team, says they're trying not to let the war or politics affect them, but he said the team has already been put at a disadvantage.

And it's not just Iran, Leila.

The U.S.

denied entry to an Iraqi team photographer.

One of their stars was held up by U.S.