News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup The Iran national team, needing a complex combination of results to advance in the World Cup after the draw with Egypt, repeated a gesture seen in the match against Belgium: they left a letter in the locker room. In the message, the Persian team thanked Seattle for their hospitality and made a strong appeal for fair play, emphasizing that ‘honor is above victory.’ This gesture comes amid criticism directed at FIFA and the United States due to logistical barriers faced by the delegation. ‘We come from IRAN. We come from a land that, for thousands of years, has placed honor above victory. For us, football is not just a competition for results. It is a test of character. Perhaps it is possible to earn points in many ways, but respect is not one of them. Perhaps a team can advance, but only through justice and honor can one hold their head high before history. Fair play is not just a line in the rules of football; it is 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 entire being for Iran. IRAN, always with heads held high,’ read the note. It is worth noting that Iran was very close to securing qualification against Egypt, but a goal by Khalilzadeh, in stoppage time, was disallowed by VAR for a millimetric offside. Now, the team is in the fight for the best third-placed teams. Currently, with three points and a goal difference of zero, Iran occupies the sixth position among the third-placed teams, which, for now, guarantees them advancement. However, their fate depends on the results of Saturday’s matches in groups J, K, and L — Algeria, DR Congo, and Croatia can still surpass the Iranians.
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