Iran's World Cup team leaves locker room message emphasizing honor over victory

Iran's national football team left a poignant message in their locker room at the Seattle Stadium following their contentious draw against Egypt, underscoring their commitment to honor and justice above all else.

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We come from Iran, a place where for hundreds of years, honor has been placed above victory. For us, football is not just a competition for results; it is a test of character.

"We come from Iran, a place where for hundreds of years, honor has been placed above victory," the message read. "For us, football is not just a competition for results; it is a test of character." The team emphasized that while points can be gained in many ways, true historical significance is achieved only through fairness and integrity. "Fair play is not just a line in the football rules; it is the soul of the game," they stated.

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Fair play is not just a line in the football rules; it is the soul of the game.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei voiced his pride in his players, stating, "I want to tell my players and the team that I am proud of them. What these young men, these players, have achieved should be written in history because the host country treated us very unfairly." He urged FIFA to prevent similar treatment of teams by hosts in future World Cups.

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I want to tell my players and the team that I am proud of them. What these young men, these players, have achieved should be written in history because the host country treated us very unfairly.

Captain Mehdi Taremi was more direct in his criticism, calling the World Cup "disastrous" due to the logistical challenges faced by the team, including travel issues stemming from migration problems with the United States. "If they want us to leave, then so be it. But this is not fair," Taremi declared.

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If they want us to leave, then so be it. But this is not fair.