Dr. Mark A. Mederson
Assistant Professor of Electronic Media at Texas State University. He came to academia after a long career in television and documentary film. His research focuses on media coverage of sports and athletes – particularly athletes and race. He enjoys analyzing media texts to determine how producers have chosen to frame stories.
In the lead up to the first kick at the World Cup 2026, news media in the United State focused on several political issues. One of the stories making headlines was the role that U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement might play in disrupting the event. And, with the U.S. and Iran embroiled in a deadly military conflict in that country, there were questions about whether Iran would even come to the U.S. to participate. Although the team was one of the first to qualify, on state television in March, Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said, “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup.” But, in April, FIFA Chief Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran would be participating, adding that, “…of course Iran will play in the United States of America.” But, just days before the WC began, Iran was disallowed by the U.S. government from staying in the country. They were welcomed by Mexico where they stayed and commuted to their matches in the United States.
Once the Cup began on June 11, U.S. audiences who sat in front of their screen and watched matches on the Fox television and Fox Sports networks, saw very little in-depth reporting on these pre-tournament political concerns. One story that did garner media attention was a note left in a locker room after a game. The handwritten letter, purportedly discovered by a cleaning crew, was left by Iran’s national football team in the locker room at SoFi Stadium after their scoreless draw with Belgium. The note thanked the city of Los Angeles for its hospitality and concluded with a call for “peace, respect and friendship among all nations.” The message was significant because it emerged amid the previously mentioned heightened political tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as well as the restrictions that forced the team to base itself in Tijuana, Mexico.
Perhaps one of the reasons the letter drew a lot of positive attention is that, in a media landscape dominated by carefully curated social media messaging, a handwritten letter left in a locker room appears almost quaint. Yet the medium and location are central to the letter’s rhetorical power. Using the metaphor of actors performing in a play, sociologist Erving Goffman theorized that individuals publicly perform socially appropriate roles like actors on a stage in front of an audience. Staying with the metaphor, Goffman says we tend to reserve more authentic expressions for backstage settings away from the public. For athletes, the locker room functions as a protected backstage space reserved for candid interaction and team identity. By leaving a public message in this private environment, the Iranian team blurred the boundary between front stage and backstage, inviting audiences to interpret the letter as a more authentic expression than a conventional, formal public statement.
The words on the page were handwritten in blue ink with a few exceptions. First were two red hearts – one above the word Iran in the sentence, “the spirit of iran (sic) remains alive and steadfast.” A second heart appeared over the last word in the letter – nations. Two other items in the letter appeared in red ink and were the only political elements in the note: #168 and #minab. These were references to the school bombing at the start of the war.
Prior to the start of each match in this year’s Cup, giant flags from the two national teams who were competing were displayed on the field, emphasizing the fact that these events are nation focused. Flag displays at sporting events inherently carry political weight, often serving as powerful symbols of national identity, ideology, or social movements. Unlike a giant flag, the one-page letter was a powerful symbol as well. It became a media event reported internationally and generated goodwill that political leaders often struggle to achieve. The Iranian team lacked formal diplomatic power, but through the visibility provided by the World Cup stage, the letter became a symbolic act of unofficial diplomacy. The post-match gesture can be viewed as a powerful rhetorical performance that temporarily reframed Iran’s public image, challenging prevailing political narratives surrounding Iran.
While one line in the letter thanked the city of Los Angeles for its hospitality, conveying courtesy and appreciation, the overall message was far from self-effacing. The opening declares, “From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized iran (sic) of today, the spirit of iran (sic) remains alive and steadfast.” It continues, “We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity.” Rather than minimizing the team’s accomplishments or identity, the letter presents the players as confident representatives of a nation with a long history and enduring cultural identity. The rhetoric balances gratitude toward the host city with an unmistakable affirmation of national pride.
The message reinforced values associated with international sport – respect, friendship, and peaceful competition. Unlike many athlete protests that seek to challenge domestic political institutions, the Iranian team’s letter pursued a different rhetorical objective. Rather than confronting authority, it sought identification with an international audience through universally accepted values. This distinction helps explain why the letter generated comparatively little backlash despite emerging from an intensely political context.
