Protest against regime
Despite the ban: historic Iran flags at the World Cup game
June 16, 2026 – 2:55 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Iranian fans protest against the regime in Tehran before their opening game in front of the stadium in Inglewood. With a flag that is banned at the World Cup.
Hours before the start of the World Cup game between Iran and New Zealand, protests against the regime in Tehran broke out in Los Angeles. Numerous Iranian fans showed a flag, the use of which is actually prohibited at the tournament.
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Many supporters could be seen in the huge SoFi Stadium with the former Iranian national flag. This was officially used until the Islamic Revolution in 1979. It shows a lion and sun motif and is now considered a symbol of opposition.
Numerous Iranian fans also protested in front of the stadium against the leadership in Tehran. Southern California is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran. Team Melli’s first World Cup game in the USA was considered particularly explosive despite the peace agreement reached between the two warring parties, according to the US President.
Use of the flag prohibited by court
Just a few hours before the opening game, the Los Angeles County Supreme Court ruled that the ban on the historic flag at the World Cup would remain in place. The background was a short-term lawsuit from the “Institute for Voice of Liberty” and an Iranian fan. The New York Times reported on this.
Judge Curtis A. Kin justified the decision by saying that freedom of expression is “incredibly important” and “sacred,” but “not unlimited.” He went on to say that this applies “for example in the case of private actors on private property, and as previous cases have shown, it must be able to be regulated in an appropriate manner.”