A group of Iranian opposition supporters is gearing up for what might be the most politically charged moment of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it has nothing to do with what happens on the pitch.
Activist Arezu Rashidi has announced that Iranian fans intend to enter World Cup stadiums carrying the Lion and Sun flag, the pre-revolution emblem that represented Iran for over seven decades before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The problem: FIFA has explicitly banned the flag from tournament venues.
A flag with a long memory
The Lion and Sun flag served as Iran’s national standard from 1907 until the revolution that brought the Islamic Republic to power. After 1979, the new government replaced it with the current flag featuring a stylized Allah emblem.
Within the diaspora and among domestic opposition groups, the older flag has evolved into a symbol of non-partisan identity and defiance against the ruling government. FIFA’s decision to restrict this emblem during the 2026 tournament has reignited debates reminiscent of those that arose during the 2022 World Cup, when attempts to display the Lion and Sun flag sparked protests and ignited social media campaigns that drew global attention to the Iranian diaspora’s grievances with the regime back home.
