Now it’s making a surprise comeback, with Major League Soccer (MLS) announcing a permanent ban on Pride flags at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, surprising fans, advocates and organisations with a strong support for LGBTQ+ rights. The controversial decision, labelled by critics as a step backwards, aims to prevent what some members of the league call an “agenda of consciousness” and potentially reshape the cultural landscape of the sport.
The decision to ban Pride flags left many fans and human rights organizations in disbelief, considering the growing movement for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports. In a statement released by MLS officials, the league emphasized that it would no longer allow “progressive displays of pride” at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, citing the need to keep the focus on the sporting aspect of the event without introducing political or social messages. The statement also mentions that these actions could distort the universal values that soccer represents.
While league leaders have defended the ban, saying it was necessary for the integrity of the sport, critics are expressing outrage and calling the move discriminatory and regressive. LGBTQ+ activists are particularly concerned that the move could signal a broader trend of community shutdowns at traditional sporting events.
The news sparked widespread debate and social media was flooded with reactions from fans both for and against the ban. Many LGBTQ+ members are using the hashtag #NoMoreWokePride to express their discontent with the ban, while others are calling for a boycott of the tournament and MLS as a whole.
On the other hand, some supporters argue that sport should remain apolitical and that in a final phase it should be placed in the competition itself, and not in social movements or identity politics. However, the majority of the negative reactions are those who consider it a discriminatory and negative decision for the LGBTQ+ community, which is struggling a lot for representation and equality.
MLS’s decision to ban Pride flags is in line with growing tension in the sports and entertainment industries over the role of social issues at major events. The move also comes amid growing polarization over cultural issues in the United States and other countries. Critics claim that by muting Pride visibility at such a major event, MLS is contributing to the erasure of LGBTQ+ culture, while supporters argue it is a return to an exclusive focus on sport.
As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup approaches, all eyes will be on the development of this policy. Will this alienate fans who have supported LGBTQ+ rights for years? Or will it serve as a rallying cry for those advocating for a more “neutral” sporting environment? Only time will tell if this decision will still hold true and what long-term impacts it will have on the relationship between sport and social activism.
Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ advocates are vowing to continue fighting for representation in sport, in the hopes that other global sporting leagues and events will take a more inclusive stance.
