Iran footballers hold up pictures of children killed in US and Israel airstrikes
Iran’s men’s football national team held up pictures of children allegedly killed in US and Israeli airstrikes ahead of their friendly with Costa Rica.
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.
It follows similar scenes before Iran’s friendly with Nigeria on Friday, when players lined up with school rucksacks to honour victims of the same strike, which left at least 170 people, from a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, dead.
The latest protest took place in front of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who had travelled to Turkey amid ongoing uncertainy surrounding Iran’s participation in this summer’s World Cup.
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, ‘for their own life and safety’.
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.
‘Iran will be at the World Cup,’ he told AFP. ‘We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.
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‘The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.
I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine.’
Iran had previously said it was in negotiations to move their group fixtures outside of the US, with Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, insisting the country would step up if needed.
Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, also previously hinted that the nation would not be able to participate in the tournament.
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.
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‘For us, what matters most are Fifa’s rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever Fifa decides,’ the vice president said.
‘Every host country has made commitments to Fifa and must honour them.’
On Infantino’s appearance at the friendly, held in the Turkish coastal town Antalya, he added: ‘Having learned that we were organising friendly matches here, he came to see us in person, and we had a fruitful discussion.
‘Given 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.’
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Article source: https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/01/iran-footballers-hold-pictures-children-killed-us-israel-airstrikes-world-cup-warm-up-27802468/