FIFA Faces Potential Lawsuit Over Ban on Iran’s Pre-Revolutionary Flag at 2026 World Cup

FIFA intends to bar Iran’s “Lion and Sun” flag at 2026 World Cup stadiums, where Iran will play two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. Institute for Voices of Liberty, a U.S. nonprofit, says it will sue, arguing that barring the flag while allowing Iran’s official flag violates U.S. constitutional viewpoint-discrimination. Institute cites FIFA’s stadium code, which bans “political” or “offensive” displays, as justification. FIFA has not clarified which rule the flag would breach or responded. A similar dispute arose at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where officials turned away fans with the flag.

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Enforcement could bar spectators in Los Angeles, Seattle and venues from displaying the flag, raising constitutional concerns about free expression at publicly funded stadiums. Darya Safai argues seated fans can still hold the flag, limiting the ban’s practical effect. The 2022 Qatar incident, where fans were denied entry for the flag, shows how similar restrictions have been applied.

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FIFA has not commented on the flag issue. Iran’s soccer federation said FIFA approved moving team training base from Arizona to Tijuana, cutting travel to Los Angeles. Darya Safai told RFE the regime’s flag is not the “real flag” of Iran and said the ban will not stop supporters from displaying the Lion and Sun emblem. Mehdi Taj confirmed the base will reduce flight time to games.

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The Institute for Voices of Liberty labels the proposed ban unconstitutional viewpoint-discrimination. Critics argue the restriction would suppress peaceful political expression for a diaspora community that views the Lion and Sun flag as a legitimate symbol of dissent.

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FIFA’s stadium code is cited as legal basis for the ban, yet the organization has not clarified which provision the Lion and Sun flag would violate or responded to the Institute’s letter, leaving legal standing of the challenge uncertain.

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• “If you insist, if you sit on your seat and take it up, they cannot do anything. I have always said: This is my real flag, this is my seat, and I will sit here.” — Darya Safai, Iranian-born Belgian lawmaker

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• “We will be based in the Tijuana camp, which is near the Pacific Ocean and on the border between Mexico.” — Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation

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• “The distance for us in the two games that we have in LA will be a 55-minute flight, which is a lot less compared to Tucson.” — Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation

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• “The regime’s flag isn’t the real flag of Iran.” — Darya Safai, Iranian-born Belgian lawmaker

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The Institute for Voices of Liberty says it will file suit if FIFA proceeds with the ban. FIFA is expected to issue a final flag-display policy before the 2026 tournament, shaping the legal environment for fan expression at the California and Washington matches.

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