Seattle fans wave Palestinian flags during Club World Cup match

Seattle Sounders fans unfurled dozens of Palestinian flags during their Club World Cup elimination soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain on Monday evening, marking another instance of anti-Israel protest at the tournament.

The demonstration occurred as regional tensions soared following the U.S. strike in Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation, Israel’s Channel 12 News outlet reported.

The display took place in the opening moments of the second half of Monday night’s match, which ended in a 2–0 defeat for Seattle, eliminating the U.S. Major League Soccer club from the competition.

Fans in the stands waved Palestinian flags alongside team scarves, drawing attention from cameras and global viewers. After a few minutes of chanting, the flags were lowered.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rules prohibit fans from displaying the flags of nations not participating in its tournaments, but the organization did not issue any immediate response to the incident. This follows a pattern of inaction from football’s governing body in the face of similar protests.

This was not the first time Seattle supporters had voiced political opposition during the tournament.

At a prior match in Seattle between Inter Miami and Japan’s Urawa Reds, a group of Sounders fans staged a demonstration outside the stadium.

Protesters held signs reading “Red Card to Israel” alongside graphic images and piles of clothing meant to symbolize the destruction in Gaza.

Despite Seattle’s early exit from the competition, FIFA could still impose sanctions. In November 2023, the Union of European Football Associations fined Scottish club Celtic £15,200 ($20,500) after its fans filled the stands with Palestinian flags during a Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at football matches—especially involving Paris Saint-Germain, a club often associated with Middle East politics due to Qatari ownership—are not uncommon.

But the emergence of such a protest from an American fanbase, particularly during a tournament hosted on U.S. soil, is a notable development.

While FIFA has yet to comment, the incident may prompt further scrutiny over how global sporting events handle politically charged displays, especially amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East.

This is especially pressing as the United States is slated to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, a tournament for which Iran has qualified.