{"id":5222,"date":"2026-04-01T10:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5222"},"modified":"2026-04-01T10:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:53:08","slug":"iran-footballers-hold-up-pictures-of-children-killed-in-us-and-israel-airstrikes-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5222","title":{"rendered":"Iran footballers hold up pictures of children killed in US and Israel airstrikes | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Iran\t<\/div>
Iran honoured the victims before their friendly with Costa Rice (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iran\u2019s men\u2019s football national team held up pictures of children allegedly killed in US and Israeli airstrikes ahead of their friendly with Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

Players and staff members all took part in the demonstration, with some also showing pictures damaged hospitals and historical buildings caused by the ongoing conflict in the region.<\/p>\n

It follows similar scenes before Iran\u2019s friendly with Nigeria on Friday, when players lined up with school rucksacks\u00a0to honour victims of the same strike, which left at least 170 people, from a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, dead.<\/p>\n

The latest protest took place in front of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who had travelled to Turkey amid ongoing uncertainy surrounding Iran\u2019s participation in this summer\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n

The war with the US and Israel saw American President Donald Trump recently suggest that Iran should not travel to the tournament, held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, \u2018for their own life and safety\u2019.<\/p>\n

Iran are set to play all three of the group-stage games in the USA, and Infantino insisted that would remain the case despite the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n

\u2018Iran will be at the World Cup,\u2019 he told AFP. \u2018We\u2019re delighted because they\u2019re a very, very strong team, I\u2019m very happy.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Iran\t<\/div>
Iran\u2019s players honour the victims of a school bombing (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"CORRECTION\t<\/div>
The team\u2019s head coach and national officials joined in on the demonstration (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen the team, I\u2019ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.\u2019<\/p>\n

Iran had previously said it was in negotiations to move their group fixtures outside of the US, with Mexico\u2019s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, insisting the country would step up if needed.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Iran\t<\/div>
Fifa President Gianni Infantino was in the stands as the protest took place (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iran\u2019s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, also\u00a0previously hinted that the nation would not be able to participate in the tournament.<\/p>\n

But speaking on Tuesday, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, the vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, gave the clearest indication yet that Iran, who beat Costa Rica 5-0 in the friendly, will not boycott the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u2018For us, what matters most are Fifa\u2019s rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever Fifa decides,\u2019 the vice president said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Every host country has made commitments to Fifa and must honour them.\u2019<\/p>\n

On Infantino\u2019s appearance at the friendly, held in the Turkish coastal town Antalya, he added: \u2018Having learned that we were organising friendly matches here, he came to see us in person, and we had a fruitful discussion.<\/p>\n

\u2018Given our history in this competition, it is only natural that Fifa should support the Iranian team. Mr Infantino is providing the necessary support to our national team and has given our players a great boost.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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