FIFA is reportedly considering a ban on Iran’s pre-revolutionary “Lion and Sun” flag at 2026 World Cup venues in North America, and the move is drawing threats of legal action. Multiple outlets report that the potential restriction is being challenged on free-speech and legal grounds, with critics arguing it would amount to an unlawful interference with expression.
Inside World Football reports that the Institute for Voices of Liberty has written to FIFA, raising concerns that the proposed prohibition could violate constitutional protections. The group’s legal counsel, Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh, says the next steps could include filing a lawsuit in Superior Court depending on FIFA’s response.
Fox News and The Mirror similarly describe the reported plan and the resulting controversy, framing the dispute as part of a broader, already contentious period around tournament planning. The sources do not agree on FIFA’s final decision, and the reports focus on the threat of legal proceedings tied to FIFA’s actions and communications regarding flags at World Cup stadiums.
