The Iranian national football team sent a touching message of thanks and appreciation to the American city of Los Angeles, which hosted its first match in the 2026 World Cup finals, following its negative draw against its Belgian counterpart on Sunday, a result that kept Iran's chances of qualifying for the next knockout rounds of the World Championship strong.

The Iranian Football Federation posted on its official Telegram account a photograph of the commemorative message, which the Iranian players wrote in their handwriting on the dressing room board inside the stadium after the final whistle, with the inspiring text of which read: "From the ancient Persia, whose history stretches back thousands of years, to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and firm and does not die."

"We came to Los Angeles with pride, we competed in our competitions with honor, and today we leave with dignity, thank you, Los Angeles, for your hospitality and good hospitality," the letter added, including exceptional praise for the large and expatic Iranian masses who supported you, while at the same time calling for the need to spread the values of peace, mutual respect and friendship among all nations and peoples.

Logistical Suffering and Tight Travel Restrictions

The city of Los Angeles hosted the first two stops of the Iranian team, while the organizing committee arranged for the team's transfer to the city of Seattle to play the upcoming and decisive match against the Egyptian national team, amid high hopes of snatching a ticket to the second round and making the fans happy at home and abroad.

The Iranian team's delegation, due to the strict travel restrictions and bans imposed on it due to political and field tension and the raging war between Tehran and Washington, forced the Mexican border city of Tijuana as its permanent ground headquarters and main camp throughout the tournament, where players were forced to periodically make the arduous commute to American cities to play matches and then return directly, a complex logistical situation that provoked great resentment among the technical staff and players alike.

Letters from Qalibaf and Araqji

Senior officials in the Islamic Republic have stepped in to link it to national and security issues.

The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posted a video of the legendary Iranian goalkeeper blocking a dangerous ball that almost hit the net during the Belgium match, likening this defensive restraint to the strict way Iranians protect their homeland's borders, and commenting on the "X" platform with the phrase: "This is how we protect our land."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi shared the same sporting image, tweeting with a deeper diplomatic and political vision: "From the soccer field to the negotiating table, and then to the battlefield, every step we take as Iranians is part of a larger struggle, which is to defend the honor and dignity of our dear people."

In a very complex symbolic gesture that carries international political dimensions, Araqchi incorporated pictures of the victims of the tragic attack on the "Minab" school for girls, directing them in an artistic form that made the victimized students as if they were pure angels guarding and defending the Iranian goal in the World Cup.

On February 28, the Minab Educational School for Girls was subjected to a direct and horrific US missile bombardment with a cruise missile, which caused the death of more than 160 female students during classes, causing a severe international diplomatic and security crisis that was reflected in UN condemnations and strict human rights demands to open urgent criminal investigations.