Iran's World Cup players honor victims of school strike in Mexico arrival
Newser • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 8, 2026, 11:27 AM
Last updated Jun 8, 2026
Iran’s World Cup team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday, wearing gold pins marked with '168' in remembrance of victims from a deadly missile strike on a school in Minab. The attack, which occurred on February 28 and claimed many children's lives, has faced condemnation from various groups. The delegation flew from Antalya and is adjusting training plans due to visa issues in the U.S. Iran is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the U.S., starting with a game against New Zealand on June 15. Return trips to Tijuana are planned between games.
- •Players wore pins symbolizing the 168 victims of the Minab school strike.
- •Iran flew to Mexico from Antalya after changing training locations.
- •The team faces visa delays, complicating U.S. entry ahead of matches.
- •Iran's first World Cup match is on June 15 against New Zealand.
- •Return to Tijuana is planned between U.S. group matches.
- 4:59 PMNewser — Iranians Arrive for World Cup Bearing a Tribute - Newser
- 1:02 PMYahoo Sports — Iran’s World Cup players wear #168 lapel pins as they arrive in Mexico
- 11:27 AMYahoo Sports — Iran's World Cup players wear pins for victims of deadly strike on school as they arrive in Mexico
"The players wore gold-colored pins with the number “168” on their jackets when getting off their plane Sunday in Tijuana, Mexico. It referred to the people killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in Minab in southern Iran. Iran’s embassy in Hungary on Monday noted the pins in a social media post with a reference to Minab.
"Players wear pins for 168 victims of deadly strike on a school as they arrive in Mexico
"The gesture follows a similar tribute by the team in March
Sources
External links- NewserJun 8, 2026, 4:59 PMIranians Arrive for World Cup Bearing a Tribute - Newser
Players wear pins for 168 victims of deadly strike on a school as they arrive in Mexico
- Yahoo SportsJun 8, 2026, 1:02 PMIran’s World Cup players wear #168 lapel pins as they arrive in Mexico
The gesture follows a similar tribute by the team in March
- Yahoo SportsJun 8, 2026, 11:27 AMIran's World Cup players wear pins for victims of deadly strike on school as they arrive in Mexico
The players wore gold-colored pins with the number “168” on their jackets when getting off their plane Sunday in Tijuana, Mexico. It referred to the people killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in Minab in southern Iran. Iran’s embassy in Hungary on Monday noted the pins in a social media post with a reference to Minab.
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