Iran left an emotional handwritten message on the SoFi Stadium dressing room whiteboard following their 0-0 draw against Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.
The note was released by the Iranian football federation and reflected deep national pride alongside a heartfelt message of gratitude to their Los Angeles hosts.
The 74-word message struck a poignant chord with football fans worldwide, going viral almost immediately after it was shared across social media platforms.
“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” the note read.
The message continued: “Thank you, Los Angeles, for your hospitality. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity.”
The letter extended sincere gratitude to the passionate Iranian diaspora who packed the stands, thanking every supporter who gave their “heart, voice, and soul” during the team’s 180 minutes in California.
The note also featured the tags “#168” and “#Minab”, serving as a tribute to school children killed in a historic missile strike in Minab, adding enormous emotional weight to the gesture.
It concluded with a plea that “peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations”, reinforcing the message as one of the tournament’s most powerful moments so far.
The defiant gesture comes as Iran battles extraordinary off-pitch obstacles, with US immigration authorities restricting the squad from staying on American soil for more than 48 hours at a time.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei and his squad have been forced to base themselves across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, commuting over specifically for their matches.
Ghalenoei has fiercely criticised the conditions his team face, openly labeling his side the “most oppressed team in the World Cup” throughout the tournament.
Despite those pressures, Iran remain in contention for the knockout stages, currently sitting second in their group with two points, two points behind group leaders Egypt.
Egypt recorded their first ever World Cup win with an impressive 3-1 victory over New Zealand, setting up a crucial final group stage showdown with Iran.
Belgium sit third with two points and are widely expected to beat New Zealand in their final group game, which would take them to five points overall.
That makes Iran’s final group match against Egypt an outright must-win fixture if Ghalenoei’s side are to advance to the next round of the tournament.
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