Iran's national football team paid tribute to the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school during a World Cup warm-up match against Nigeria on Friday. The players held small pink and purple school backpacks and wore black armbands in remembrance of the children killed in the attack.
More than 165 people, mostly children, died when a missile struck a school in southern Iran on February 28. The United States and Israel have not accepted responsibility for the attack, which has been condemned by the United Nations and human rights groups. The US military has said it is investigating and would never intentionally target civilians.
Nigeria won the match 2-1. Iran is preparing for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Iranian team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in the US in June.
Iran has requested FIFA to move those matches to Mexico, citing safety concerns after US President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending. Iranian officials have said they do not want to boycott the tournament but cannot travel to the US due to military attacks by Israel and the US. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has rejected the request, insisting the tournament proceed as planned.
Separately, Iran's judiciary has threatened to seize the property of footballer Sardar Azmoun, following similar threats against celebrities critical of the government.
