Iran State Media Wants US to Be Banned From World Cup

• Iran’s state media stated that it would like the US to be kicked out at the 2022 World Cup.
• A short version of the Iranian Flag was briefly displayed by the United States Soccer Federation.
• The edited flag was created as a sign of solidarity between protestors in Iran and the team.

Iran’s state media demanded that FIFA expel the United States from the World Cup due to its social media activity. 

In a series of tweets, Tasnim News Agency — backed by the Iranian government — wrote that the US soccer team should no longer be able to participate in the World Cup tournament for posting a “distorted image” of the country’s flag. 

—Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) November 27, 2022

CNN reported that the United States Soccer Federation displayed an Iranian flag on Saturday without the Iranian emblem in its center. The emblem in the center is supposed to represent Iran’s Islamic Republic.

According to Reuters, Michael Kammarman, soccer media officer, said that Sunday’s move was meant to show support for women in Iran fighting for basic rights.

CNN was informed by the US State Department that it had nothing to do the USSF’s move but would continue its support for the Iranian people despite state-sponsored violence against females and brutal crackdowns on peaceful protestors.