Israeli flag removed at World Cup match while Palestinian flags remained nearby, Hebrew media reports
An Israeli flag was removed from a fan at a FIFA World Cup match between Iran and New Zealand while Palestinian flags nearby were reportedly left untouched, Hebrew media reported Wednesday.
The incident, filmed inside the stadium and circulated on social media, showed stewards asking a fan to hand over an Israeli flag during Iran’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup, Israel Hayom reported. The fan pointed to Palestinian flags being held a few rows away and accused the stewards of applying the rules unevenly.
“Why don’t you tell them to take down their flag?” the fan said, according to Israel Hayom. “This feels like antisemitism. When you take that flag down, I’ll take mine down.”
The stewards reportedly told the fan the Israeli flag had to be removed for safety reasons and said the order did not come from them personally. Israel Hayom reported that the fan eventually handed over the flag after being told he would receive it back later. In another part of the video, a steward reportedly told him flags of teams playing in the match were allowed, a rule that would not explain why Palestinian flags were left visible.
The video spread quickly on X, where Israeli and pro-Israel accounts accused FIFA and stadium staff of enforcing flag rules selectively. One Hebrew-language post sharing the video said the fan was told flags of countries not playing in the tournament were banned, while Palestinian flags were not removed. American sports writer Martin Lieberman also shared the clip and criticized FIFA over the “safety” explanation.
Walla Sport, part of The Jerusalem Post’s media group, separately reported that the Iran-New Zealand match became a political protest arena. According to Walla’s Idan Kvaler, Israeli flags were seen in the stands alongside Palestinian flags, Iranian flags, and the pre-revolutionary Iranian Lion and Sun flag, which FIFA had sought to block from stadiums.
'Unusual combinations' of flags
Sport5 also reported that images of Israeli flags appearing next to Iranian and Palestinian flags at the match went viral online, with many users expressing confusion over the unusual combination. The outlet reported that one woman seen holding an Israeli flag appeared to be wearing a shirt with the pre-revolutionary Iranian Lion and Sun symbol, suggesting she was likely an Iranian opponent of the regime.
The incident comes as FIFA faces growing scrutiny over political displays at World Cup venues. The Guardian reported this week that England fans were warned that some flags could be confiscated at Dallas Stadium, with FIFA sources citing safety and security reasons. The report said some Dutch and Japanese fans had already had flags removed at the same stadium, while similar restrictions had not been applied consistently at other venues.
FIFA rules generally permit small flags and banners if they meet size and fire-safety requirements, while banning materials deemed political, offensive, or discriminatory. The application of those rules has become a flashpoint at the 2026 World Cup, especially in matches involving Iran and amid international campaigns calling for Israel to be suspended from global soccer.
'Kick Israel out of FIFA'
The World Cup has already seen anti-Israel activism. Reuters reported last week that protesters in Toronto unfurled a large “Kick Israel out of FIFA” banner near a World Cup logo ahead of Canada’s opening match, accusing FIFA of complicity over Israel’s participation in international soccer.
The flag dispute also follows broader US concern over antisemitism at the tournament. Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the US special envoy for monitoring and combating antisemitism, said in April that foreign nationals accused of fostering antisemitism abroad could be barred from attending World Cup matches in the United States. Kaploun said at the time that entry to the US was “a privilege” and that individuals would be judged case by case.
FIFA has faced repeated pressure from Palestinian officials and activists to act against the Israel Football Association. Earlier this week, The Jerusalem Post reported that FIFA was considering a symbolic Israel-Palestine match to open an under-15 football festival in the US in September, an initiative meant to bring together players from all 211 FIFA member associations.
The reported removal of the Israeli flag is likely to deepen Israeli concerns that political symbols at World Cup stadiums are being handled inconsistently.