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Iran’s World Cup Thank-You Note Captures Global Attention
By Aurax Desk | June 28, 2026 | 2 min read
Iran’s national football team has attracted international attention for a handwritten message left in a World Cup locker room thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality. The gesture came as the team navigated a tournament marked by travel restrictions, political tensions and uncertainty over its future in the competition.
A handwritten message left by Iran’s national team thanked Los Angeles for its hospitality during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Iran left a handwritten note in its locker room at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium after a scoreless draw with Belgium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanking the city and its supporters while emphasizing dignity, respect and national pride. The message was shared publicly by the Iranian football federation and quickly circulated on social media and international news outlets. The draw kept Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive at the time, extending an unbeaten run that included earlier matches against New Zealand and Belgium.
The gesture came against the backdrop of an unusually complicated tournament for the Iranian team. Because of U.S. travel restrictions tied to broader political tensions between Washington and Tehran, Iran was based in Tijuana, Mexico, and commuted to the United States for matches. Several members of the delegation faced travel limitations, while team officials and players publicly expressed frustration with the logistical challenges. Despite those obstacles, Iran remained competitive throughout the group stage and earned praise for its resilience on the field.
Iran later repeated a similar gesture after its match against Egypt in Seattle, again leaving a message that highlighted fair play and gratitude while expressing disappointment over the circumstances surrounding its campaign. The team ultimately exited the tournament unbeaten after three draws, narrowly missing a historic first appearance in the knockout rounds. While results ended its World Cup journey, the locker room notes became one of the tournament’s most widely discussed examples of sportsmanship and diplomacy through sport.
Sources: Reuters, ESPN, BBC Sport and The New York Times.
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