Iran's World Cup squad touched down in Tijuana on Sunday wearing gold lapel pins that read "#168" — the number of people killed when a missile struck Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab on February 28. Most of the dead were schoolgirls. The delegation flew in from Turkey on a private jet, and the pins were on their jackets before they'd even spoken to a reporter.
This is the latest in a series of gestures the Iran team has made in defiance of what FIFA calls its political message ban. In March warmup matches, players held purple school backpacks and photographs of victims during the national anthem. More recently, they stood with right hands across their chests. FIFA watched, said nothing, and took no action. Whether they'll stay quiet when it matters — during actual World Cup matches — is the real question.
FIFA's silence has a limit
The regulations are unambiguous: "equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images." That applies to players, coaches, and sideline staff. A pin reading "#168" almost certainly qualifies. But FIFA has consistently ducked the issue when it comes to Iran, and at this point, their inaction is itself a statement.
There's a political complexity FIFA clearly wants no part of. Video analyzed by investigative outlet Bellingcat appears to show a U.S. Tomahawk missile hitting the school, which sat adjacent to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard compound. The United States hasn't accepted responsibility but says it's investigating. Sanctioning Iran's players for mourning 168 dead children — most of them girls — while that investigation is ongoing would be a PR catastrophe. FIFA knows this.
Captain Ehsan Hajsafi, who spoke openly about Iran's government crackdown during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, arrived with a different grievance this time. He called out FIFA directly over the visa delays that kept parts of the delegation grounded.
"Visas were eventually issued," he said. "Personally, however, I do have a complaint about FIFA. Why did it take so long? As far as I understand, visas were issued only to the players and a few members of the coaching staff."
Iran's group-stage schedule
The delays reportedly stem from visa complications tied to alleged connections some players and staff have with Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The training base was shifted from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana as a result — FIFA hasn't officially explained the decision.
Iran open their World Cup campaign on June 15 against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, then face Belgium on June 21 — also in L.A. — before closing the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Their passage out of the group is far from straightforward, and a team managing geopolitical controversy alongside match preparation faces a weight that doesn't show up in the odds.
Whether those #168 pins make it onto the touchline during a live World Cup match is where this story goes next. FIFA's track record suggests they'll look the other way again — but they've also proven willing to act swiftly when it suits them. The Iran players are betting on the former.
