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The Saudi Arabian flag was held aloft during the ceremony before the match against Spain. |
Ahead of Spain's match against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, USA, a small detail in the national anthem ceremony drew attention. Instead of being laid flat on the pitch as in many other matches at the 2026 World Cup , the Saudi Arabian flag was held aloft by volunteers. The Spanish flag was handled similarly to ensure ceremonial balance.
The reason lies in the unique design of the Saudi Arabian flag. Against the blue background of the national flag, the word Shahada, the central declaration of the Islamic faith, is written in white. This inscription is accompanied by an image of a sword and serves not only as a national identifier but also as a sacred religious symbol.
Therefore, Saudi Arabia does not want its national flag to touch the ground. According to the original article, Saudi Arabia's National Flag Law, enacted in 1973, prohibits the flag from touching the ground, water, or any low surface. The national flag is also not allowed to be flown at half-mast, even during periods of national mourning.
FIFA therefore had to adjust the protocol. Before the 2026 World Cup, the world football governing body introduced a new version of the flag ceremony, in which players and referees stand around a circle in the center of the field, while two giant flags are spread out on either side of the pitch. But for Saudi Arabia, this method of organization creates religious and ritualistic issues.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation submitted a request to FIFA. The world football governing body approved it and chose the solution of keeping both flags raised. If only the Saudi Arabian flag were raised while the Spanish flag remained on the pitch, the image would appear unbalanced. Therefore, both national flags were treated in the same way.
A similar situation occurred with Iraq, whose flag displayed the words "Allahu Akbar." In the Iraq vs. Norway match, FIFA also applied a similar procedure after receiving a request from Iraq.
With Iran, the situation is different. Although the country's flag also has religious elements, the Iranian flag was still displayed on the pitch during the match against New Zealand. The reason given was that the Iranian Football Federation did not send a request to FIFA to adjust the protocol.
Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-co-saudi-arabia-khong-cham-co-post1661908.html
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