Why the Iraq flag does not touch the pitch at the World Cup
The Iraq Football Federation requested that FIFA avoid placing their national flag on the ground during pre-match ceremonies due to religious inscriptions.
FIFA's standard protocol at the World Cup typically involves laying the national flags of the competing teams on the pitch before the national anthems are played. However, Iraq has secured an exception during the tournament.
The Iraqi Football Federation requested that their flag not be placed directly on the ground. The reason lies in the inscription at the center of the flag: the phrase "Allahu Akbar" ("God is the Greatest"), which is a sacred expression in Islam. According to team representatives, this request was made to demonstrate respect for the religious nature of the phrase, and as a result, the flag remains held aloft during the ceremony.
While this situation draws comparisons to the Saudi Arabian flag, there is a clear distinction. Saudi Arabia follows strict religious traditions and interpretations that prohibit the national symbol from touching the ground or surfaces deemed inappropriate. For Iraq, there is no formal legislation or rule prohibiting the contact; the measure was a specific, symbolic gesture adopted by the federation for the duration of the tournament.