World Cup 2026: Iran, Egypt at odds with FIFA over ‘Pride Match’ symbols, festivities in Seattle

On Jun 25, 2026

Iran and Egypt are scheduled to play a World Cup group stage match at Seattle’s Lumen Field on Friday in what the city has designated a “Pride Match.”

This weekend, June 27-28, is Pride Weekend in Seattle to celebrate Pride Month, which honors the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) culture and community, noting their contributions and achievements. Festivities include the Pride Parade through downtown Seattle on Sunday and PrideFest celebrations in various parts of the city, including Capitol Hill and the Seattle Center.

However, Egypt and Iran playing in the match has created friction as both countries have anti-gay laws and philosophies.

Before the World Cup draw determined which countries would be playing in Seattle, the city’s host committee planned for Friday’s game to be part of Pride Weekend festivities.

An August 2025 NWSL match between the Seattle Reign and the Angel City FC at Lumen Field sported Pride flags on the corners of the field. (Photo by Alika Jenner/NWSL via Getty Images)

(Alika Jenner via Getty Images)

The Iran Football Federation has asked FIFA to prevent “ceremonies and activities” supporting the LGBTQ+ community, in addition to symbols and other representations during Friday’s match, both surrounding and inside the stadium, according to The Athletic.

Last December, after the 2026 World Cup draw was announced, Egypt’s soccer federation sent a letter to FIFA “categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match,” the Associated Press reported.

FIFA disregarded such requests, telling The Athletic that rainbow flags would be permitted at all World Cup matches.

Yet in January, FIFA president Gianni Infantino attempted to quell any potential controversy by telling Swiss newspaper Weltwoche that the June 25 match in Seattle would have no “Pride Match” branding.

“I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup,” Infantino said (via The Athletic). “There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organised by external organizations will be taking place in the city. But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”

FIFA issued a statement to The Athletic that the organization considers the World Cup to be an “inclusive event.”

“Rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct,” the statement read. But there is no indication that any formal Pride signage or activation will be inside the stadium during Friday’s match.

In Iran, homosexuality is illegal and gay men have been previously executed on sodomy charges, according to the Associated Press. Egypt does not explicitly ban same-sex relations, but LGBTQ+ people have been arrested and prosecuted based on indecency laws.

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