If you’re following the 2026 World Cup and the England team, you may have spotted an unusual detail in the pre-match ceremonies: the giant flags of Saudi Arabia and Iraq are never laid flat on the pitch. For every other nation, the flag is spread across the grass and then rolled up and carried away by volunteers. These two countries are the exception. The reason is religious: their flags carry sacred Islamic wording that is treated with extra care.
Why these two flags are never laid on the ground
The Saudi Arabia and Iraq flags are not laid on the ground because they contain religious script. The Saudi flag carries the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith (“There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God”), while the Iraq flag bears the takbir (“Allahu Akbar”, God is the greatest). Placing these sacred words on the ground, where they could be stepped on, is considered disrespectful.
So in matches involving these two teams, organisers adapt the protocol: the flag is carried aloft, above the pitch, and never spread out flat. That is the common denominator behind every exception seen during the 2026 World Cup ceremonies.
What England fans should know about the protocol
For England supporters, this detail is a reminder that the 2026 World Cup brings together cultures with very different sensitivities. FIFA adjusts its ceremonies to respect national and religious symbols, without favouring any side. England, drawn in Group L alongside Croatia and others, would not meet these nations in the group stage, but they could appear on the road through the knockouts.
In practice, whenever Saudi Arabia or Iraq take to the field, you’ll see their flag held in the air rather than laid on the grass. It isn’t an oversight or a sporting favour — it’s a respect protocol applied consistently whenever religious wording appears on the flag.
FAQ
Why is the Saudi Arabia flag not laid on the ground at the 2026 World Cup?
Because it carries the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith. Laying that sacred wording on the ground is seen as disrespectful, so the flag is held aloft instead.
What does the Iraq flag say?
The Iraq flag bears the takbir, the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is the greatest). This religious wording requires the same treatment as the Saudi flag.
Will England face either country at the 2026 World Cup?
Not in the group stage — England are in Group L with Croatia and others — but Saudi Arabia or Iraq could cross England’s path in the knockout rounds.
Is this an official FIFA rule?
It’s an adaptation of the ceremony protocol out of respect for religious symbols, applied whenever a flag includes sacred wording.
Are any other flags treated this way?
At the 2026 World Cup, the common denominator behind every exception is Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the two nations whose flags carry religious script.
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