Iranian World Cup players send message to the US as they land in Mexico
Iranian national soccer team captain Ehsan Hajisafi looks on after arrival at Tijuana International Airport on June 7, 2026 in Tijuana, Mexico (Getty Images)
Iran‘s World Cup team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday wearing lapel pins bearing the number “168” to honor the victims of a Feb. 28 missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.
The gold-colored pins, worn by players on their jackets, referenced the 168 victims, predominantly children, of the attack at the start of the United States and Israel’s war with Iran.
This gesture follows a similar tribute in March, when the team displayed pink and purple school backpacks during their national anthem in Turkey to draw attention to the same incident.
The attack has been widely attributed to the U.S. but neither the U.S. nor Israel has accepted responsibility for it, with the U.S. military stating it would never intentionally target civilians and is currently investigating the incident.
The team’s preparations for their U.S. games have been complicated by visa processing delays from American authorities, with some delegation members reportedly denied entry due to ties with the Revolutionary Guard.
