A last-minute legal challenge in Los Angeles has failed to overturn FIFA’s decision to ban fans from bringing pre-revolutionary Iranian flags to World Cup matches in the United States. The ruling was upheld on Monday, just hours before Iran’s opening game against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium, The Athletic reports.

The ban specifically targets flags featuring a lion and sun motif, historically associated with Iran’s Shah-led regime, which was deposed in 1979. FIFA has deemed this flag “political” in nature, according to a source inside FIFA with direct knowledge of its position, aligning with its long-standing policy prohibiting materials of a “political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature” within World Cup stadiums.

Last-minute legal challenge fails

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday by the Institute for Voice of Liberty and Iran fan Sam Kermanian. Lawyer Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh, representing Kermanian and 5,000 members of the Institute, argued that the ban violated ticket holders’ right to free speech, particularly for the large Iranian community in California who may not wish to display the official Islamic Republic flag.

“They are ticket holders, with a right to attend game with their own flag. This is being violated. It may be trivial to many, to them it is critical. There is a huge Iranian community in California, many are not going to want to walk in with Islamic Republic flag. They are being denied their exercise of free speech,” Mokhtarzadeh stated during the hearing.

Read also: Dana White condemns "nasty and false" Michelle Obama slur at White House UFC event

However, Judge Curtis A. Kin presided over the hearing and ultimately denied the application. His decision hinged on several factors, including the practical burden of altering stadium protocols at such short notice for a major event. Judge Kin cited potential harm to approximately 2,500 staff members dealing with safety protocols, explaining that it would be a “tremendous burden” to change a long-standing stadium policy in a matter of hours.

“There may be harm to some 2,500 staff members who have to deal with safety protocols. It is a tremendous burden to change a long-standing stadium protocol for a massive event in a period of hours. It is hard to see how FIFA could make a change at one stadium and not the rest,” Judge Kin said, explaining his reasoning.

The judge also clarified that a stadium, where a ticket is required for entry, does not constitute a public forum in the same way a park or street might, thus allowing for reasonable regulation of expression. “Free speech is incredibly important, it is sacred, a bedrock of our society, but it is not without limitation, such as private actor, on private property, and as shown by previous cases, regulating in reasonable way. I deny the application,” Judge Kin concluded.

Iran’s complex World Cup presence

Iran is set to play all its World Cup games in the United States, facing New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The team’s presence in the US has been fraught with logistical challenges and political undertones. Originally, Iran’s training camp was planned for Tucson, Arizona, but it was subsequently moved to Tijuana, Mexico. There are also claims that the team will only be permitted into the US specifically for matches before being required to fly out immediately.

Read also: Enzo Fernandez reflects on World Cup glory and eyes Argentina captaincy for 2026

The ban on the pre-revolutionary flag adds another layer of complexity to Iran’s participation, underscoring the delicate balance between sporting events, political symbols, and freedom of expression on an international stage.

Read also: FIFA clears VAR Shaun Evans after "White power" gesture controversy at World Cup