Vienna/Santa Barbara, 19 June 2026 – As Austria’s national team prepares for its second match in the United States, anticipation is running high among players and fans alike—especially following the impressive 3–1 victory in the opening round. Just ahead of kickoff, the team received a remarkable boost from home: a unique delivery of thousands of fan messages, sent in spectacular fashion by Austrian Post, carrying not only words of encouragement but also a powerful sense of unity, motivation and support.
AIRDROPPED MESSAGES DELIVER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ACROSS CONTINENTS
While the national squad spent recent weeks in focused preparation, fans across Austria were equally engaged—crafting handwritten notes, drawings, photos and heartfelt wishes for the team. The result was a wave of emotional messages that underline the immense backing the players enjoy at home.
In a standout moment of the initiative, part of the fan mail was delivered in an extraordinary way: via parachute. Austrian skydiver and para-ski athlete Sophie Grill personally transported the first batch of letters, landing in the United States to deliver the messages “from the sky.” The second portion of the fan mail followed via an electric vehicle operated by Austrian Post, ensuring reliable delivery.
The campaign also highlighted the journey of a young Austrian girl whose letter symbolically represented thousands of others. Her message was tracked and documented on video—from posting it in Austria to its dramatic arrival in the U.S.—bringing to life the emotional connection between fans and the team, despite the distance.
Peter Umundum, Deputy CEO, Parcels & Logistics (COO), Austrian Post Group: “For this fan mail campaign, we wanted to do something truly spectacular: a parachute delivery in the United States. It made for a very special ‘last mile,’ allowing us to hand over a large number of letters and postcards from fans back home directly to the national team in Santa Barbara. I hope we were able to give the players an extra boost of motivation for the matches ahead. This initiative shows what’s possible when team spirit and logistics come together. I wish the Austrian national team every success in the upcoming games.”
Alessandro Schöpf, Austrian National Team Player: "There were so many wonderful letters. Messages like these give us an extra boost of motivation for the matches ahead."
Phillipp Mwene, Austrian National Team Player: "You can really feel the excitement and the level of support. It means a lot to us and gives us strength—especially knowing that we have such incredible backing from all across Austria."
Sophie Grill, Skydiver and Delivery Ambassador: "It was an incredible experience. I carried a backpack full of fan mail during the jump, while the remaining messages were transported by electric vehicle. I’m proud to help deliver these powerful messages and create a connection between the team and their supporters back home."
FANS CAN STILL SEND MESSAGES TO AUSTRIA’S NATIONAL TEAM
Fans still have the opportunity to send their personal messages to the national team by post. Austrian Post continues to collect all incoming letters and ensures that every single message is reliably delivered to the players—living up to its promise: “Always there when you need us.”
FACTS AT A GLANCE
(As of June 2026)
- Campaign: Spectacular fan mail delivery to Austria’s national team in the United States ahead of their second match
- Organizer: Austrian Post fan mail initiative
- Volume: Thousands of letters and messages from across Austria
- Execution: Partial delivery via parachute jump by Sophie Grill; remaining shipments delivered by electric vehicle
- Highlight: Parachute airdrop as an unconventional and symbolic delivery method
- Impact: Strengthened morale through messages of support, encouragement and national unity
Photo 1: “Special delivery agent” and skydiver Sophie Grill en route to the Austrian national team
Photo 2: National team players (left to right) Florian Wiegele, Phillipp Mwene and Alessandro Schöpf with fan mail from Austria
Video: Spectacular delivery to the national team – letter from a young girl, representing messages from fans across Austria
Additional photos and video material are available for download in the media hub.
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