Los Angeles: The Iranian football team left a handwritten message in the stadium locker room after its match against Belgium in Los Angeles, referring to the victims of recent U.S. missile strikes.
According to reports, although Iran’s World Cup matches are being played in the United States, the team’s base camp is located in Mexico.
After playing group-stage matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, the Iranian squad left a note in the locker room that read:
“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the modern civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast. We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with dignity, and leave with our heads held high. Los Angeles, thank you for your hospitality.”
The team also thanked Iranian supporters and called for peace, mutual respect, and friendship among all nations. The message additionally included the hashtags #168 and #Minab.
The message instantly gained widespread attention on social media, where many users interpreted it as a unique symbol of unity, resilience, and respect for those affected by recent war. Supporters praised the team for using a global sporting platform to convey a message that transcended football, while others viewed it as a reminder of the human created miseries for the fellow humans during ongoing tensions in the region.
The locker-room message triggered discussions across online platforms and was widely shared as an example of sports being used to express solidarity and national pride.
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