An official Pride flag will be waved at England’s first World Cup game

A rainbow Pride flag will be on full display at England’s first World Cup match – with the full support of the Football Association.

The president of the Russian LGBT Sport Federation, Alexander Agapov, hit the headlines when he waved a rainbow flag during the opening game of the tournament on June 14.

And it seems that England is set to go one better, with fans set to fly the team’s Three Lions and St George’s cross coloured in with the Pride rainbow, as shown above.

Alexander Agapov with his flag

The one-by-two-metre will be unfurled during the June 18 game against Tunisia by Di Cunningham, organiser of LGBT group Three Lions Pride, according to the Daily Beast.

And, she said, it was with the explicit backing of the authorities.

“The FA definitely wants it to be seen and wants us to go,” said Cunningham. “They have endorsed it.

Di Cunningham (di cunningham/facebook)

“To create the banner we had to clear the use of the image’s rights with them. We will also be wearing specially designed scarves with the same design. Both have the FA’s endorsement.

“It’s a very limited run. We are not allowed to sell them or make any more of them. The FA wants the visibility and association with LGBTQ+ inclusion.”

The other Three Lions Pride fans alongside Cunningham will also have rainbow flags to wave.

Before the World Cup, the Government warned fans that “public attitudes towards LGBT+ people are less tolerant than in the UK,” before directing them to guidance published by the Football Supporters’ Federation which “strongly encouraged supporters to “not publicly display your sexuality.”

England fans wave flags (Alex Livesey/Getty)

But an FA spokesperson made it clear that the organisation was in support of LGBT visibility from England fans in the Russian stands.

• Dec 01

16 TV stars you grew up watching who later came out as LGBTQ+