World Cup Pride Match between Iran and Egypt to go ahead
FIFA World Cup 2026 (Getty Images)
Iran and Egypt are set to play in the first-ever FIFA World Cup Pride Match this Friday, despite the two countries objecting.
The Seattle World Cup host committee designated the Group G match on Friday as the first-ever Pride match, with Iran and Egypt being picked randomly for the bout. The countries, which have been historically anti-LGBTQ+, have spent months protesting the match, along with other organisations.
However, the Seattle organising committee has stuck to their guns, confirming that the Pride Match between the two teams on Friday will go ahead as planned to coincide with the start of Seattle Pride weekend. And with FIFA ruling that Pride flags are allowed in stadiums for World Cup matches, despite threats to stop games over them from Iran, it is sure to be an extra gay game.
Hedda McLendon, Seattle FQC26’s senior vice president of legacy, told Outsports: “We anticipate a lot of rainbow flags in the stadium and T-shirts with rainbow flags on them. Let’s welcome people to Seattle. It’s the World Cup. And let’s show them how we Pride. It’s not a day, it’s not a weekend here. It’s a month.”
This follows on from Iran asking FIFA to ban Pride flags from stadiums during World Cup matches as part of a list of demands. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran argued that only officially recognised national flags should be displayed during matches. However, FIFA confirmed that rainbow flags and LGBTQ+ expressions would be allowed.
The city is also prepared for protests, with designated protest zones outside of the stadium to allow for safe demonstrations. The city’s mayor confirmed the move following recent matches in Southern California, which saw protests against Iran’s current regime and the FIFA ban on the “Lion and Sun” pre-revolutionary flag.
“We are very much expecting and prepared for protest activity, which is why we have many designated protest zones in the stadium area, and our law enforcement is very prepared to deal with that,” Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said.
In 2022, when Qatar, which imprisons people for being gay, hosted the FIFA World Cup, LGBTQ+ fans travelling for matches were warned to respect the local culture. It seems as though Seattle is following these guidelines by supporting the LGBTQ+ community and highlighting Pride Month.
Meanwhile, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has written a letter to the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, to urge the suspension of 11 teams – Iran and Egypt, as well as Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Algeria – which would not permit a gay player to be on their teams. Tatchell argues the discrimination would go against FIFA rules, which prohibit sexuality-based discrimination.
There are currently no out gay or bisexual players in the men’s World Cup. As of today (24 June), Qatar, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Uzbekistan have not qualified for the Knockout Stage of the World Cup.
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