The Iran national football team left a handwritten note calling for global peace in their SoFi Stadium dressing room after a World Cup match [1].

The gesture comes during a high-stakes tournament where sports often intersect with international diplomacy. By using a public sporting venue to message peace, the team sought to project an image of friendship beyond the competition.

The incident occurred following a Group G second-round match against Belgium on Sunday, June 23, 2026 [2]. The game ended in a 0-0 draw [2]. After the match, the Iranian squad left a message in the locker room in Los Angeles, U.S. [1].

According to reports, the note read: “May peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations” [1]. Other accounts indicate the message also thanked the city of Los Angeles for its hospitality and expressed gratitude toward the fans [3].

Members of the Iran Football Federation later reiterated these sentiments. “We thank the people of Los Angeles for their hospitality,” the federation said [4].

The team's departure from the venue was marked by a sense of composure. One Iran player said, “We leave with dignity” [2].

The match was the second for Iran in Group G [1]. The use of a handwritten note in a shared athletic space highlights a rare moment of soft diplomacy during the tournament's group stage.

““May peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations.””

This gesture represents a calculated use of 'soft power' by the Iranian delegation. By framing their presence in the U.S. through the lens of peace and hospitality rather than political friction, the team attempted to decouple athletic competition from the complex diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United States.