Pride House to open during the World Cup in Russia

A Pride House will be held during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia, defying the country’s harsh stance on open LGBT support.

Pride Houses are venues at major sporting events for LGBT athletes, coaches and prominent visitors, similar to the venues held by individual countries for their athletes.

After the first Pride House was set up at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, they have been a staple of many international sporting events.

Russian authorities banned one from taking place at the Sochi Winter Olympics, prompting groups around the world to host their own in solidarity with the LGBT athletes and visitors in Russia.

It was expected that there would not be a Pride House at this year’s World Cup due to Russia’s harsh anti-LGBT stance.

Gay rights protesters face off in St Petersburg (Photo: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

However, according to Pride House International, the group responsible for the oversight of Pride Houses at major sporting events, plans to hold a house during this year’s World Cup are underway.

The house will reportedly be held at a yet undisclosed location in St Petersburg and will be held without government support.

Governments will often contribute to the running of the houses, with one example of the Scottish Government providing £25,000 to the Pride House in Glasgow during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

This will be the first Pride House to be held at an international football event.

(Getty)