Iranian Supporters Wave Forbidden Flags at World Cup Match
WHO:
ABC News - U.S. Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that Iranians attempted to get someone with direct ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard into the U.S.
Fox News - Iranian fans
NY Post - Iranian supporters
WHAT:
ABC News - An attendee wearing a pre-revolutionary flag shirt was detained for trying to run onto the pitch after the match.
ABC News - An Associated Press reporter observed a fan involved in a scuffle with protesters being loaded into an ambulance.
Fox News - Iranian fans displayed Lion-and-Sun flags during a World Cup match against Belgium.
NY Post - The display of the banned pre-revolutionary Iranian flag was a form of protest against FIFA's prohibition.
WHERE:
Fox News - SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
NY Post - SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
WHEN:
Fox News - The event occurred during a World Cup match against Belgium on a Sunday.
NY Post - The match was described as a clash with Belgium.
WHY:
ABC News - The Iranian soccer federation claimed Mullin's assertion about an official representative attempting to enter the U.S. was “an outright and undeniable lie.”
NY Post - The display of the flags was intended to turn the stadium into a powerful stage for protest.
HOW:
ABC News - Mullin indicated that the U.S. accepted 53 individuals from Iran's traveling party, while Iran had attempted to secure visas for additional people with ties to the IRGC.
Fox News - Fans defied FIFA's ban by bringing the flags into the stadium.
(UPDATED June 22, 2026 06:45 UTC)
U.S. Homeland Security official Markwayne Mullin reported that Iranians attempted to get someone with direct ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard into the U.S., a claim that the Iranian soccer federation has called “an outright and undeniable lie.” In related news, an attendee wearing a pre-revolutionary flag shirt was detained after trying to run onto the pitch following a match, while an Associated Press reporter witnessed a fan involved in a scuffle with protesters being loaded into an ambulance. Mullin also noted that the U.S. accepted 53 individuals from Iran's traveling party, despite Iran's efforts to secure visas for additional people connected to the IRGC.
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(UPDATED June 22, 2026 03:33 UTC)
During a recent World Cup match against Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Iranian fans boldly displayed Lion-and-Sun flags, which are banned pre-revolutionary symbols. This act was a form of protest against FIFA's prohibition, as supporters aimed to transform the stadium into a powerful stage for their message. Despite the ban, fans successfully brought the flags into the venue, showcasing their defiance and solidarity.