NEW DELHI: The Iran national football team has once again received praise for a touching off-field gesture after their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Egypt in Seattle.After the 1-1 draw, which helped Egypt qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their history, Iranian players left a handwritten note in the dressing room thanking the hosts and emphasizing the values ​​of fair play and sportsmanship.
Iran’s message about fair play
The message shared by news agency Tasnim on Xu focused on respect, honor and the true spirit of football.“We come from Iran… A country that for thousands of years has valued honor above victory. For us, football is more than a competition for results; it is a test of character. Maybe points can be won in many ways, but respect is not. Maybe a team can advance from the group, but only with honesty and honor can a man stand tall before history. Fair play is not just a line in football rules; it’s the soul of the game. Thank you, Seattle, for your hospitality and thank you to all Iranians who have given their hearts, their voices and their whole being for Iran. Iran, always upright,” the message reads.
Second message in two games
It was the second time during the tournament that Iran left a heartfelt message in the dressing room.After a goalless draw against Belgium at SoFi Stadium, the team thanked Los Angeles for their hospitality and reflected on their journey.“From ancient Persia thousands of years ago to today’s civilized Iran, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” read a handwritten message released by the Iran Football Association.“Thank you to Los Angeles for the hospitality. We came to Los Angeles with pride, we competed with honor and we left with dignity,” it concludes.
Egypt makes history
On the field, Egypt secured a historic place in the FIFA World Cup knockout phase with a 1-1 draw.Mahmoud Saber gave Egypt an early lead after Mohamed Salah’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.Iran had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot, but Mostafa Shobeir saved Mehdi Taremi’s spot-kick before Ramin Rezaeian eventually equalized. Rezaeian’s performance earned him the man of the match award.Iran thought they had found a dramatic winner in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Shobeir then made another important save to preserve the draw and send Egypt into the knockout stages.
