Iran’s men’s national soccer team protested the killing of schoolgirls before their match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday. Players wore black armbands and held schoolbags during the anthem, a gesture made on the first day of the Iran war.
The team was playing in Belek, Turkey, ahead of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where their participation is uncertain due to the ongoing conflict. Players held small backpacks to honor victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school.
Iran lost the match to Nigeria 2-1, marking their first game since the start of the Middle East conflict. A team official confirmed the demonstration was in response to the deaths of the schoolgirls.