ITV pundit Emma Hayes is being praised for a five-word message she sent to viewers during Iran’s World Cup match against Belgium on Friday night.

The USA Women’s head coach has found herself on both sides of the praise and criticism divide during this summer’s showpiece tournament. Her in-depth analysis during hydration breaks has shown why she’s regarded as one of the best in the business.

However, after being placed on a TV set that some viewers likened to a kitchen, a sexism row quickly went into overdrive. Many of football’s more old-fashioned followers seized the opportunity to take aim at the seven-time Women’s Super League winner. Now, though, Hayes appears to have delivered a message of her own.

Emma Hayes’ Message During ITV Coverage Is Going Viral

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images via Reuters

While going about her usual business of dissecting early tactics and offering a perfect deep dive that is both understandable but complex enough so that so-called football experts can still learn something away from other pundits’ dumbed-down analysis, Hayes takes a minute to stop what she’s doing, and reveal the wording on her back (see below):

The ‘beautiful’ quote was a message from her dad before he passed away, and seems to have acted as a defiant message against the unnecessary criticism she has faced recently. Reacting to the incident online, one X user wrote: “Emma Hayes that was quality,” while another remarked:

A third added: “Think that bit from Emma Hayes will upset those she hoped it would!” and a fourth concluded: “Big up Emma Hayes. Beautiful words there on top of her quality analysis all tournament.”

Hayes’ Analysis Shouldn’t Continue To Be Overlooked – It’s Brilliant

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

For the most part, pundits like to dumb things down for the ordinary spectator. This way, anyone can watch football and quickly get to grips with what’s happening. But for those connoisseurs who know the ins and outs of the sport, this style of punditry can become quite repetitive, and that’s where one of the best analysts in the game, Emma Hayes, comes into play.

The coach-turned-pundit is just as detailed in her journalism as she is in her management. A diary loaded with stats and facts makes for an in-depth and fascinating analysis before and after the ninety minutes are done. While others try to streamline football, Hayes, who is best known for her work with Chelsea, teaches her viewers about the complexities, catering for those who thought they already knew it all.

It’s a great shame that her work is being overshadowed or ignored by those who can’t accept her brilliance just because they don’t like her. The work she puts in behind the scenes is there for all to see, and it makes for a refreshing sight this summer.

Political tensions continue to take an iron grip over the 2026 World Cup, with the reaction to Iran’s national anthem being played ahead of their second group stage match vs Belgium prompting a big reaction at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Sunday night.

Team Melli had previously faced New Zealand in a 2-2 draw at the same stadium last week. They were able to brush tension aside briefly to allow themselves a chance of making it to the Round of 32 across the pond, despite several visa issues and sub-plots getting in the way of their focus.

A win over Belgium, who are above Germany and in ninth in the FIFA World Rankings, is unlikely. But should they pull off a miracle, they’d head into a final group match vs Egypt with everything on the line.

How Crowd Reacted To Iran National Anthem Before Belgium Match

Gary Vasquez via Reuters

Just like last week, boos could be heard ringing around the venue once again. Although it remains uncertain who is responsible for the strong reaction, American neutrals will have no doubt played some role, given the context of the ongoing conflict between the two countries in the Middle East that dominated headlines heading into this summer. Watch the national anthem being played below:

It is also believed that, again, Iran have broken an enforced FIFA rule change as they brought their pre-revolutionary flags into the home of the LA Chargers, despite Gianni Infantino deciding they should be banned from doing so to avoid unwanted provocation.

Iran Boss Claims He’s Been Shunned By World Cup Rivals

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has claimed he has been shunned by the other 47 managers at the World Cup and said his squad had suffered further disruption after Fifa’s attempts to fix their latest travel chaos failed. They flew into Los Angeles on Saturday lunchtime local time before their second Group G game against Belgium.

Ghalenoei – who said Iran felt “robbed” over their treatment by World Cup organisers – claimed, as per Yahoo Sports, that none of his managerial counterparts at the tournament have responded to his questions. “We have many challenges, especially off the pitch,” the Iran coach said. “I asked the 47 other coaches a question and none of them have responded to me.”

Asked if felt the support of the other nations, Ghalenoei added: “No, I have not seen [that]. I have not had any reaction from any one. But it seems like the honourable coach of Belgium [Rudi Garcia] said [in his press conference] we are here for football and not politics.

“Our grievances are to do with the way they [World Cup organisers] have behaved towards us. I’ve not heard from other coaches, they are busy with their own teams, and we did not receive anything. I would have done [it].”

It’s only natural that a nation with such a strong link to football would have produced so many great players. For all that quality, however, England have only ever had one World Cup-winning side.

Perhaps a key issue is that, for all the talent the country has seen, not enough of those special players have been able to translate club form into performances with the Three Lions. The Golden Generation, for example, had Premier League legends such as Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but the trio failed to gel on a regular basis when lining up together for England.

In the modern era, star names like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are examples of massively talented players who haven’t even made it into Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Before all those names, though, there was Glenn Hoddle. One of the finest midfielders the country has ever produced, and yet he believes he barely ever got the chance to play in his best position.

Glenn Hoddle: ‘I Would Been Treated Better if Was Dutch, French or Spanish’

Hoddle managed 53 caps for England, scoring eight times. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, he revealed how he was held back due to his reputation as a ‘luxury player’ in an era defined by intense physicality and long-ball football.

Hoddle recalled: “I had a strong belief in my ability. I had a lot of stubbornness. I was very shy but, when it came to football, I had to do what was natural. If people didn’t understand me, so be it.

Perhaps if Hoddle has been played in the number 10 position more often, England could have achieved more. After all, in his one and only match in that role, he scored and created two other goals against Hungary in 1983.

Hoddle Felt ‘Suffocated’ by England’s Rigid 4-4-2 System

Hoddle would play at two World Cups, with a quarter-final defeat to Argentina in 1986 the furthest he made it with the Three Lions. In his autobiography, ‘Playmaker’, the former England player and manager explained his frustration as he was forced to play a midfield role in a 4-4-2 set-up, which had no space for him to operate as a number 10.

He claimed he felt “suffocated” playing for England, noting “we were painfully small-minded and it took us an eternity to change”. Speaking to the Guardian, he added:

He felt that he played in the wrong era, or at least for the wrong country, adding: “People used to say: ‘You should have got more than 53 caps,’ and my answer was always pretty bland and steadfast: ‘I’m proud of the 53 I got.’

“But, deep down, I knew I was a continental player. You either give in, and go against your instincts, or you fight it.”