On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ahmad Dunyamali, the Minister of Sports and Youth of the Islamic Republic, issued a warning regarding what he termed "potential incidents in the stadium stands," stating that such incidents could impact the course of the matches.
According to the sports website Varzesh 3, while referring to the organizers' responsibility to ensure security and order in the stadiums, he emphasized that Iran maintains "serious sensitivity" toward the display of unofficial flags or the chanting of protest slogans during matches.
Dunyamali also stated that organizers have been informed that if any flags other than the official emblem of Iran are spotted, or if "norm-breaking" slogans are chanted, the team manager can halt the match.
Previously, Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian Football Federation, had also requested the prevention of such incidents in letters addressed to the FIFA president. The Iranian national football team is scheduled to play all of its group-stage matches in the United States. The FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11.
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