US EditionEgypt and Iran complain about planned World Cup ‘Pride’ match in Seattle
The Pride Match, planned as part of Seattle's annual Pride weekend, faces objections from Egypt and Iran, where LGBTQ+ identities face legal penalties, yet organizers affirm events will proceed.
- 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.
168 Articles
168 Articles
Los Angeles. The LGBTI community support activities planned around the 2026 World Cup party between Iran and Egypt, to be contested in Seattle, continue despite the objections of those two countries, confirmed the local organizing committee.This game, scheduled for June 26 within the group phase of the North American World Cup, had already been designated as a platform to promote the Pride weekend in Seattle before they met the participating sel…
An unfounded decision by FIFA has meant that the group match between Iran and Egypt at next year's World Cup finals will potentially be played in Seattle - right on top of a Pride celebration. This has caused great consternation among both nations.
Seattle doubles down on World Cup Pride plans despite Iran, Egypt's objections
Complaints by the football associations of Iran and Egypt highlight tensions between World Cup rules promoting anti-discrimination, inclusivity and neutrality on political and social matters.
Will FIFA cancel its LGBTQ Pride match for Iran and Egypt?
FIFA looks set to face its first major scandal of the 2026 World Cup – if you don’t count the exorbitant cost of the tickets, that is. The Egyptian FA has made a formal request for the cancellation of an LGBTQ+ celebration planned to take place at their Group G game against Iran on June 26 in Seattle. The game roughly coincides with the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The Seattle Pride match committee are planning to combine celebrat…
Egypt and Iran to play World Cup 'pride match'
Egypt and Iran will play against each other in the World Cup’s “pride match”, despite both nations criminalising same sex relationships. Both countries’ football federations objected to the plan, but organisers say the celebrations will continue as part of the host city’s LGBT weekend in June 2026. Seattle will hold its events outside the stadium, and FIFA will allow rainbow flags inside the venue. Local organisers say the Pride programming refl…
In Seattle, the Iran-Egypt World Cup poster was chosen as LGBT+ "Pride Match", giving rise to many festivities in the city. A decision that is offended
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