Iran left a message in their SoFi Stadium locker room on Sunday thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality ​during the World Cup and saying they are leaving ‌with dignity after a 0-0 draw with Belgium kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Los Angeles hosted both of Iran’s Group G ​matches so far, with the team returning to their ​base in Tijuana, Mexico between games.

Iran have spent the tournament ⁠based in Tijuana commuting to the U.S. for their matches ​because of restrictions surrounding their stay in the country, while a ​number of Iran’s team staff and officials have been banned.

U.S. officials have said the squad’s travel arrangements would continue to be assessed, while discussions over ​easing some restrictions have continued.

“From the ancient Persia of thousands ​of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran ‌remains ⁠alive and steadfast,” read the handwritten note, which was released by Iran’s football federation.

“Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.

“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with ​dignity.”

The note also ​thanked Iranian ⁠supporters who gave their “heart, voice and soul” for the team during the two matches and ended ​with a call for peace, respect and friendship among ​all ⁠nations.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has repeatedly criticised the travel restrictions imposed on the side, saying the team has faced challenges no other ⁠side have ​had to endure.

Iran, who drew 2-2 ​with New Zealand in their opener at SoFi Stadium, play their final group match ​against Egypt in Seattle.

Reuters

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move into a tie for second in career World Cup goals with 16, and France played through the tournament’s first rain delay to beat Iraq 3-0 on Monday and advance to the knockout stage.

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé also scored for Les Bleus, giving fans who stuck out a rainy night in Philadelphia a reason to cut loose.

Mbappé scored in the 14th and 54th minutes to cap a momentous and soggy 100th international appearance for one of the best players in the world.

Mbappe’s first goal gave France a 1-0 lead at halftime, when heavy rain and an incoming thunderstorm prompted a delay of just over two hours and forced the grounds crew to squeegee water off the swampy Kentucky bluegrass at Lincoln Financial Field.

Scoreboard messages directed the crowd to take shelter in the stadium’s covered areas, warning that a severe storm was on the way. Sheets of rain continued to fall through halftime as fans wrapped themselves in ponchos and huddled in the concourse and under balconies.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold wrestled with a poncho for a few seconds before he pulled it over his head and returned to the covered dugout. French fans who stayed in their seats in the last few covered rows of the top of the stadium waved the country’s flag, and many splashed around the concourse to pass time.

Others fled for the exits — at the same stadium where last season’s opener for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles was delayed 65 minutes in the third quarter because of lightning — as the delay dragged on, giving overseas spectators a triple dose of American sports nuisances: rain delays, overpriced concessions and TV timeouts in the form of hydration breaks. There was no second-half hydration break in this game after the long, wet pause in the action.

Weather aside, this game — as so many do for France — belonged to Mbappé as he tries to keep pace on the career goals list with new record holder Lionel Messi.

Playing in his third World Cup, the 27-year-old Mbappé matched Miroslav Klose of Germany on the goals list and moved one ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo.

Messi scored twice for Argentina earlier Monday to set the tournament record at 18. He had equaled Klose with his first World Cup hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria last Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mbappé scored his third goal of the tournament with a left-footed strike — his supposed weaker foot — from the edge of the box that got past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, who got his first start in the tournament after captain Jalal Hassan allowed all four goals in Iraq’s 4-1 loss to Norway.

For his second goal, Mbappé took advantage of a poor pass to the goalkeeper by Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen. Dembele controlled the loose ball and passed to Mbappé, who tapped it in with his right foot.

Mbappé had a chance at the hat trick on a late breakaway, but missed before he was subbed out at the 90-minute mark.

Mbappé helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by Désiré Doué and Dembélé, France entered this year’s tournament as a co-favorite with Spain.

France could return to Philadelphia to play Germany on July 4.

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was subbed out with an apparent injury in the 26th minute of the first half and replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi. Hussein scored his 34th international goal in Iraq’s World Cup opener.

Iraq is playing in the World Cup for just the second time after debuting in 1986.

GN

In the World Cup, teams commonly travel from base camp to their venues a day in advance. But in this 2026 tournament, Iran’s case is different.

Team Melli – the name used for Iran’s national team – had not been granted permission to stay overnight in the United States after their matches in the United States.

However, the travel restriction has put a strain on players and staff, said Iran’s secretary-general, Hedayat Mombeini.

“We are the only team participating in the World Cup that is at the host cities for just 24 hours, and it is not fair.”

The Iranian squad has been throughout the tournament is training in Tijuana, Mexico.

But when they entered the United States, Mombeini said they faced repeated border checks and tedious immigration procedures.

“All these limitations on us have negative effects on our players physically and mentally.”

Iran’s captain, Mehdi Taremi, has given insight into the ordeal.

The journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles is generally short. 

But for the New Zealand match, Iran’s team had to suffer a five-hour ordeal due to travel restrictions.

Although the team had requested permission to stay overnight in California following the match to recover, the request was denied.

Again, a second request was made ahead of Iran’s face-off against Belgium on Sunday for arriving two day before the match. 

It was denied.

Now, the Iranian federation is planning to lodge an official complaint with FIFA.

Adding insult to injury, the U.S. has reportedly not issued visas to several members of the Iranian team’s support staff.

It is worth noting that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between Iran and the U.S.

The Int’l News