Falcon & Winter Soldier Shirt Confirms Sokovia Accords Are Still In Effect

The Sokovia Accords are still in effect in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as proven by new tie-in merchandise. Introduced in Captain America: Civil War, the legal documents aim to regulate the actions of the MCU superheroes. Team Iron Man was for it, arguing that sooner or later, it will be imposed whether they like it or not and it’s best not to antagonize leaders of the world. Team Cap, on the other hand, refused it, pointing out that it’s important they maintain their agency.

In the two years after the events of Civil War and the Avengers split, the Sokovia Accords were implemented. It’s the reason why Captain America and the Secret Avengers had to operate underground as they were deemed vigilantes, which was backed up by a throwaway line in Spider-Man: Homecoming. But, when the threat of Thanos became imminent and Iron Man left to rescue Doctor Strange after Black Order members attacked New York, Steve and his allies emerged. With a much bigger problem at hand, the Sokovia Accords was set aside. Now that the Mad Titan has been defeated, however, it appears as if it’s back up again.

Official tie-in merchandise for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier from Hot Topic reveals that Sharon Carter is being hunted down for breaking the Sokovia Accords. It’s worth remembering that she smuggled Steve’s shield and Sam Wilson’s wings just before they faced-off with Team Iron Man in Germany. Check out the apparel below:

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is confirmed to take place after the events of Avengers: Endgame, when Steve is officially retired from the MCU and the Captain America shield and mantle now with Sam. Considering that it’s been seven years since the Sokovia Accords was implemented and the universe went through so much during that time, it’s unclear who’s even overseeing its reinstatement. After the reverse snap, governments around the world must be scrambling to deal with the influx of people who returned from being snuffed out of existence due to Thanos’ snap. Then again, this tracks with what’s been revealed about the show thus far, particularly how John Walker  — the government’s choice for the new Captain America — is wielding the shield, essentially stripping Sam of his inherited superhero persona.

It’s curious how the Sokovia Accords will come into play not just in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but in the MCU’s Phase 4 in general. Aside from Sam and Bucky’s adventures, it could ultimately impact Wanda as well, whose loss of control in Lagos was the catalyst to its introduction. Now, she may be endangering herself and other people, albeit unintentionally, in WandaVision as she lives in a fantasy world with Vision in Westview. If anything, Ant-Man was really the only member of Team Cap who served his sentence, and if they’re going after Agent 13 for her involvement with them, then it’s not outside the realm of possibility that all those who are still alive are being hunted as well.