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FIFA has not banned the England national flag itself, but it has blocked or restricted some England supporters’ flags at the 2026 FIFA World Cup because of tournament rules on security, political messages, and prohibited imagery.
One widely reported case involved a supporter of Barrow AFC whose St George’s Cross flag carried the club’s badge. FIFA rejected the flag because the badge contains a submarine, which was classified as military imagery under tournament regulations. FIFA said the flag could be reconsidered if the submarine image was covered.
England fans have also been warned that:
- Large flags may require prior approval.
- Flags cannot contain political messages.
- Images of weapons or other prohibited symbols are not allowed.
- Some stadiums have restricted where flags can be displayed, particularly around LED advertising boards, citing safety and security concerns.
The controversy has sparked criticism from supporters, who argue that some of the rules are being enforced too strictly.
So the headline “FIFA bans England fan’s flag from the World Cup” refers to a specific fan’s flag that contained a club badge with a submarine, not a ban on England flags in general.
