A viral video from a World Cup 2026 match in Los Angeles shows a security guard taking away an Israeli flag from a fan while a Palestinian flag behind him is left untouched. The incident was posted on social media and quickly spread, drawing millions of views, likes, and comments, many of them hostile toward Israel.
In the clip, the fan says he is only being told to remove the Israeli flag, even though a Palestinian flag is flying directly nearby. He tells the guard, “You ask to remove my flag, but not that one,” and adds, “It looks a little antisemitic. As soon as you remove the Palestinian flag, I will remove mine.”
Security personnel explain that, according to FIFA rules, only flags of the teams playing in the match are allowed. The guard repeats that policy, but does not approach the people waving the Palestinian flag. The Israeli flag is eventually confiscated, while the Palestinian flag continues to wave.
The fan later turns to other security staff, who give the same explanation about permitted team flags, yet still do not remove the Palestinian banner. The article describes the episode as a serious anti-Israel incident at the tournament.
