FIFA banned iran's "lion and sun" flag at World Cup, organization to sue

May 25 – According to The Athletic, a non-profit organization has threatened legal action against FIFA over its plan to ban the display of Iran's pre-revolutionary flag (the old Iranian flag featuring the lion and sun emblem) inside stadiums during this summer's FIFA World Cup in North America.

The organization, "Institute for Voices of Liberty," has sent a formal letter to FIFA through its legal representatives, stating that if FIFA does not change its policy or respond, it may file a lawsuit in California state or federal court. Its legal counsel stated that three days after sending the letter, no response had been received from FIFA, and the team was preparing relevant legal proceedings to address the possibility that FIFA might continue to enforce the ban.

The Athletic previously reported that FIFA's internal venue guidelines for this FIFA World Cup did include a provision prohibiting the display of the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag. When asked by the media, FIFA only cited its stadium code of conduct regarding "prohibited political, offensive or discriminatory items," which stipulates that any flags, banners, or items with political attributes or involving discrimination against a country, individual, or group are not allowed inside venues. However, FIFA did not explicitly state which rule the pre-revolutionary flag specifically violates; it is widely believed that it will be categorized as "political in nature" and thus restricted.

The so-called "Lion and Sun flag" is the version of Iran's national flag before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Like the current Iranian flag, it is based on the three colors of red, white, and green, but the old version featured the lion and sun emblem in the center, while the current flag has been replaced with Islamic symbols and text. This flag was abolished after the revolution but has long been regarded by the Iranian diaspora abroad as a symbol of identity and political expression, particularly frequently used by groups opposing the current Iranian regime, hence its significant political sensitivity.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, some Iranian fans brought this flag into stadiums to watch games, but some were denied entry by security personnel, and some banners with content critical of the Iranian government were also prohibited. At that time, massive protests erupted in Iran due to the Mahsa Amini incident, and the political atmosphere was highly tense, further escalating the controversy surrounding such symbols.

Currently, FIFA's general policy tends to allow official flags of member associations into venues, but restricts alternative flags with political connotations. Therefore, the Palestinian flag, among others, is permitted because it is an officially recognized flag of a FIFA member association, while the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag does not represent the current Iranian Football Federation system and is thus more likely to be considered a symbol of political expression rather than an official national identifier. However, specific enforcement still depends on on-site security and event management authorities.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran's team will play two group stage matches at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles and one at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Los Angeles area has a large Iranian diaspora, so ticket sales for related matches have been brisk. However, Iran's participation has not been without controversy; the previous tensions in the Middle East, and military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran, created uncertainty about its participation. Iran even requested to move the matches to Mexico, but FIFA refused. Additionally, senior officials of the Iranian Football Federation missed several FIFA World Cup preparatory meetings due to visa and political background issues.

After FIFA's policy was exposed, the non-profit organization quickly sent a letter of protest, emphasizing that in the United States and California, prohibiting flag displays might violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, arguing that the pre-revolutionary flag is a protected form of political expression, and any prohibition could constitute "viewpoint discrimination." They also pointed out that many FIFA World Cup venues are public assets or publicly funded facilities, so FIFA and related operators might face legal risks, and demanded that FIFA confirm in writing that spectators would not be restricted from displaying flags due to political stances or symbolic expressions, otherwise legal proceedings would be initiated.

The incident quickly sparked public division. Official Iranian social media took the opportunity to emphasize the legitimacy and uniqueness of the current national flag, while some conservative media and commentators criticized FIFA for restricting freedom of speech, arguing that the pre-revolutionary flag carries historical and cultural identity. Some politicians also joined the debate, arguing that sports events should not suppress the expression of specific historical symbols, but others warned that the FIFA World Cup could be further torn apart by political symbols.

The Athletic states that as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, this controversy surrounding flags, political expression, and the principle of sports neutrality is evolving into a complex conflict involving constitutional rights, international sports governance, and national symbol recognition, and may continue to escalate before the tournament.