US EditionEgypt and Iran complain about planned World Cup ‘Pride’ match in Seattle
- On June 26 the Seattle-hosted Group G match at Lumen Field will be the World Cup's first `Pride Match`, featuring Egypt national team and Iran national team.
- Seattle organisers say the Pride Match programming was planned well before teams were assigned and organised by SeattleFWC26 independent of FIFA to celebrate Washington state Pride events and create lasting cultural impacts.
- Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's Football Federation, said Tehran and Cairo raised objections and called the branding an `irrational move`; Iranian state television said Tehran would `appeal` to FIFA and the Egyptian Football Association wrote to FIFA rejecting activities supporting homosexuality during the match.
- Seattle PrideFest, which attracts over 200,000 participants, will follow the match on 27 and 28 June, with community programming and art displays proceeding as planned, says Seattle PrideMatch Advisory Committee.
- FIFA faces renewed scrutiny after the Pride Match, as Egypt and Iran criminalize same-sex relations and Iran can impose the death penalty, challenging FIFA's neutrality and anti-discrimination rules.
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143 Articles
Iran and Egypt will face up to the 2026 World Cup, both disagreeing with celebrating Pride Day, June 26 in Seattle
At the end of June in Seattle there is the "Pride Festival." On the 26th of the month the draw of the World Championships has placed Egypt-Iran, who write to the Fifa: "homosexual activities in contrast with our religious and cultural values, be neutral"
Iran, Egypt File Complaint with FIFA
(Seattle, WA) — Iran and Egypt have complained after FIFA scheduled a World Cup match between the two nations in Seattle that will coincide with the city’s gay pride festival. Seattle’s “PrideFest 2026,” is set to take place on June 27 and 28 immediately following the game. The president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, condemned the decision to use Seattle as a venue and the timing of the match. He told Iranian state TV, “Both Egypt an…
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