The Iranian national football squad and its management made a solemn gesture ahead of their World Cup preparation friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday. Players and officials posed holding photographs depicting children reportedly killed in aerial assaults attributed to the United States and Israel.

Pre-Match Tribute in Antalya

The event took place at the stadium in Antalya, although no spectators were present for the match. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was in attendance to observe the proceedings.

Team Participation and Match Result

Iranian players stood alongside coach Amir Ghalenoei, the Vice President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, and various staff members. They held the images while the national anthem was played.

Following the tribute, Iran secured a decisive 5-0 victory over Costa Rica.

Previous Acts of Solidarity

This demonstration was not the first of its kind during their preparation phase. Just days earlier, before facing Nigeria on Friday, the Iranian team held small backpacks.

This previous action was intended to honor the victims of a deadly missile attack on a primary school in southern Iran. That incident, which occurred on February 28, resulted in the deaths of over 165 people, predominantly children.

Attribution and Investigation

The attack on the school is presumed to have been launched by the United States. Neither the US nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the strike, which has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the United Nations.

The US military is currently investigating the incident, maintaining that it would never target civilians.

World Cup Concerns and Venue Disputes

Iranian government and football officials have stated they do not wish to boycott the upcoming World Cup, which the US, Canada, and Mexico are co-hosting in June.

However, they claimed it was impossible for the national team to travel to the United States due to the war initiated by the US and Israel. The Islamic Republic team is scheduled to play three group stage matches in the US.

FIFA's Stance on Match Relocation

Iran's Ambassador to Mexico City revealed that the country formally requested FIFA move those three fixtures to Mexico. This request followed US President Donald Trump discouraging the team's attendance, citing security concerns.

Gianni Infantino has since rejected Iran's efforts to relocate the games, emphasizing that FIFA intends for the tournament to proceed exactly as scheduled.