Iranian team wears #168 pins for victims of school strike: Will it be allowed during the World Cup?
When the Iran team landed in Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday morning, players wore pin badges on their lapels that read ‘#168’.
The design, replicating an online hashtag, commemorates the number of children killed at an elementary school on the first day of the U.S.-Iran conflict — February 28, 2026 — according to the Iranian foreign ministry.
The New York Times, citing U.S. officials and others familiar with the preliminary findings, reported that an ongoing military investigation had determined the U.S. was responsible for the deadly missile strike. Neither President Donald Trump nor the U.S. government has confirmed that report.
The Iran team had departed their pre-World Cup training camp in Antalya, Turkey on Saturday afternoon but were not wearing the badges. During the journey, via a refuelling stop in Spain, the badges were then attached to the lapels of their dark blue jackets and were visible when they disembarked in Mexico before heading to their team hotel.
Is this against FIFA rules?
While Iran players wearing a pin badge outside of a game setting is in a grey area as to whether it is in breach of any regulations, it is a sign that further political messaging during the tournament may become an issue due to the continued geopolitical tensions.
FIFA regulations state that “equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” or players and/or the team may be sanctioned by the competition organiser or FIFA. It applies to all players and officials in the technical area, therefore if the badge were to be worn by head coach Amir Ghalenoei, he may face punishment.
The regulations highlight that “political” infringements are “less clear” to define, but stipulate that “slogans, statements or images” related to “any person(s), living or dead” and “any specific political act/event” are not permitted.
The Athletic has contacted FIFA for clarification on whether Iran’s players wearing pin badges in transit to a World Cup may be in violation of rules, and has also asked the Iranian Football Federation whether the team intends to wear the badges at other stages during the tournament.
Have Iran done this before?
It is not the first time that the Iran team have brought attention to the tragedy.
Before a friendly game against Nigeria during the March international break, the Iranian starting line-up held up school bags as symbols of commemoration during the national anthem. At the same juncture before playing Costa Rica a few days later, the team held up images of people — including children — that had died and sporting and heritage infrastructure that had been damaged during bombing raids.
Although ultimately an act of remembrance, the actions during the games appeared to breach FIFA’s rules on political displays.
When The Athletic contacted FIFA in March following the incidents, world football’s governing body said any next steps would be carried out in accordance with its disciplinary code. No formal action was subsequently announced. FIFA president Gianni Infantino witnessed the display against Costa Rica inside the stadium, where his organization’s flag was flying.
Before friendlies this month against Gambia and Mali in Turkey prior to leaving for Mexico, the team stood with their right hands across their chests during the anthem.