Iranian players wear a brooch referring to those killed in a US attack on a school while arriving for the World Cup; PHOTOS

Alireza Jahanbakhsh, a player on the Iranian national football team, wears a '#168' brooch, in reference to victims of the US attack on a school in Minab, during their landing in Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup on June 7, 2026.
AP Photo/Gregory Bull
The players of the Iranian national football team arrived for the World Cup wearing a brooch referring to the victims of a bombing by the USA against a school that occurred during the war between the two countries.
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The object was seen attached to the jackets of the players and other members of the Iranian delegation during their landing at Tijuana airport, in Mexico, where they will be concentrated during the World Cup. The "#168" on the brooch is a tribute to the number of children killed in the bombing of the school in Minab, in the south of Iran. (See the photos at the beginning of the report and below)
The Iran team will play its three group stage games of the competition in North American territory between the 15th and 26th of June. There will be two matches in Los Angeles, and one in Seattle. According to the Trump administration, the Iranian delegation will be able to enter the US up to 36 hours before each match.
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Investigations by the US press showed that the US Army was in fact responsible for the attack on the school, and that the bombing would have occurred because of incorrect military data, which indicated the presence of a military base there. The incident put pressure on Trump, and led to accusations of genocide by the Iranian government at the UN. See a video of the attack here.
The war between the US and Iran in the Middle East continues, but has been in a ceasefire period since the beginning of April. Amid the sensitive diplomatic relationship between the countries, new clashes are being witnessed on the eve of the World Cup. The Iranian football federation accused the US on Tuesday of revoking Iranian fans' tickets for the tournament at the last minute. The White House declined to comment on the accusation.
See more photos below:
Ehsan Hajisafi (center), a player on the Iranian national soccer team, after disembarking from a plane for the World Cup in Tijuana, Mexico, on June 7, 2026.
AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Iranian soccer team player wears '#168' brooch, in reference to victims of the US attack on a school in Minab, during landing in Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup on June 7, 2026.
Disclosure/Iranian National Team
Iranian football team player wears '#168' brooch, in reference to victims of the US attack on the school in Minab, during landing in Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup on June 7, 2026. 2026.
Disclosure/Iranian national team
Players from the Iranian football team wear a '#168' brooch, in reference to victims of the US attack on the school in Minab, during their landing in Tijuana, Mexico, for the World Cup on June 7, 2026.
Disclosure/Iranian national team

Source: G1