FIFA has confirmed that rainbow flags will be allowed in stadiums during the World Cup match between Egypt and Iran, a game that has been designated a "Pride Match" by the city of Seattle. The decision comes despite protests from both Iran and Egypt, nations where same-sex relationships are criminalized.
The match is scheduled to take place in Seattle during the city's Pride weekend, a plan initiated by the city to honor the LGBTQ+ community before the participating teams were determined by the World Cup draw.
Both Iran and Egypt have officially objected to their involvement in a match aligned with Pride celebrations. Iran's football federation president had previously called the fixture "unreasonable conduct that supports a specific group." Egypt's football association sent a letter to FIFA stating it "completely rejects" any initiatives "related to supporting homosexuality," asserting they are contrary to cultural and religious values.
A FIFA spokesperson stated that the World Cup is an inclusive event and that fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome. The spokesperson added that "General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the World Cup Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had earlier distanced the organization from the "Pride Match" designations, clarifying that while external organizations would hold events in Seattle on the same day, these would not be directly associated with the FIFA World Cup match itself.
The match between Egypt and Iran is a significant fixture in Group G, with Egypt currently leading the group with four points, followed by Iran with two points. Belgium and New Zealand, also in Group G, will play simultaneously.