Iran have left a second handwritten message at the World Cup after their group-stage campaign ended in elimination, with the team again using the note to thank their hosts and question the treatment they received during the tournament.
The message was reportedly left in the Seattle Stadium dressing room after Iran’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, a result that left them third in Group G on three points. Iran were ultimately eliminated after the final best-third-place rankings were confirmed, with only the top eight third-placed teams advancing in the expanded 48-team format.
Their earlier note, left in Los Angeles after the draw with Belgium, had praised the city’s hospitality and stressed dignity and respect. This latest message adopted a firmer tone, reflecting the frustration that had built up over Iran’s tournament experience.
Much of that frustration centred on the conditions surrounding the team’s stay in North America. Iran were based in Tijuana, Mexico, and had to travel into the United States for their matches, with the arrangement cutting into recovery time and training preparation.
One flashpoint in the Egypt game was a late disallowed goal, when Shoja Khalilzadeh’s effort was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
The note, as reported by The Sun, read:
“To the noble people of Mexico and the beautiful city of Tijuana, thank you! You showed us that hosting a Fifa World Cup is about far more than stadiums and tickets. True hosting is about respect, humanity and dignity.
“We will never forget the kindness of the people of Tijuana. From this day forward, Mexico will always be more than a host nation to us; it will be our second home and our second team.”
The note also reportedly suggested that Iran’s treatment during the tournament deserved closer scrutiny.
“We leave this World Cup with pride, but also with one fundamental question: ‘Did everything apply equally to all the teams in the tournament?,’ the note pondered. “What we experienced was a series of decisions, logistical arrangements, and circumstances that undermined the sense of fairness – an impression only reinforced by the events of the final matchday of our group.”
It continued by saying that, in time, ‘history will judge who genuinely welcomed Iran’s presence at this World Cup, and who would have preferred our journey to end much sooner.’
“For us, fair play is not a slogan printed on advertising boards; it is the very identity of football. Yet this tournament reminded us that there is still a significant distance between inspiring words and meaningful actions,” the team allegedly wrote. “We leave Tijuana believing that football fans around the world witnessed not only the hardship endured by Iranian football, but also the resilience of a nation that refused to trade its dignity, horror, and values despite every challenge.
“And we will never forget that those who celebrated Iran’s elimination were the same people who had previously celebrated the suffering and loss of innocent Iranian lives. That alone reveals the difference in how humanity is understood.
“World Cups come to an end. Administrators change, but civilisations such as Iran, Egypt and Mexico – built upon truth, respect, and human dignity – endure through history.
“Match results become part of football history. The honour of nations becomes part of human history. With respect, Iranian National Team.”