FIFA Sued Over World Cup Ban on Pre-Revolution Iranian Flag (1)

Members of California’s Iranian-American community are suing FIFA and other entities over a policy to ban the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag at 2026 World Cup matches.

The Institute for Voices of Liberty—a Golden State nonprofit advocating for US policies that speed up the dismantling of the Iranian regime—and one of its members, Sam Kermanian, sued the soccer organization June 10 in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County.

The lawsuit said Kermanian had acquired tickets for Iran’s games against New Zealand and Belgium, which will kick off in Los Angeles on June 15 and June 21 respectively. He and members of the nonprofit intend to display the flag, which the complaint says is “widely recognized among Iranian-Americans
as a symbol of political identity and opposition to the current Iranian regime.”

FIFA’s policy of banning the flag is causing the plaintiffs to fear being excluded or removed from stadiums, have their property confiscated, and other consequences, according to the complaint.

The organization’s policy violates the California Constitution, the plaintiffs say. They seek a preliminary and permanent injunction against the ban, a declaration from the court that FIFA cannot prohibit them from bringing the flag to the games, a ruling that the organization’s policy constitutes viewpoint discrimination under state law, and other relief.

FIFA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment submitted via its web portal.

Los Angeles County and its Sheriff’s Department are among the other defendants named in the lawsuit. The Sheriff’s Department acknowledged a request for comment, and the County didn’t immediately respond.

Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh PLC represents plaintiffs.

The case is Kermanian v. FIFA, Cal. Super. Ct., No. 26STCV18475, complaint filed 6/10/26.