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Iran Soccer Team Honors Victims Amid World Cup Controversy

3/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Iran's national soccer team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, posed with photographs of children allegedly killed by United States and Israeli airstrikes before March 31, 2026 warmup against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey.
The gesture followed a missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that killed 165 people, mostly children.
Iran has asked FIFA to move World Cup matches from the United States for safety, but Gianni Infantino opposed.

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Story summary

Iran's national soccer team, coached by Amir Ghalenoei, posed with photographs of children allegedly killed by United States and Israeli airstrikes before March 31, 2026 warmup against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey.
The gesture followed a missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that killed 165 people, mostly children.
Iran has asked FIFA to move World Cup matches from the United States for safety, but Gianni Infantino opposed.