The Iranian and Egyptian soccer federations have formally requested that FIFA remove any "Pride Match" designations and rainbow symbols from an upcoming World Cup match between the two nations in Seattle. The contest, scheduled for June 26 at Lumen Field, coincides with Seattle's Pride weekend and has been referred to as a "Pride Match" by event organizers.
FIFA confirmed to The New York Times that rainbow flags will continue to be permitted at World Cup matches. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously stated that there would be no official "Pride Match" at the tournament, asserting that any such events in Seattle are unrelated to the match itself.
The Iranian federation stated that it has "clearly communicated its position" to FIFA, emphasizing that the governing body should consider the views of participating teams regarding the match environment. Both federations are seeking assurances that no promotional activities related to Pride will occur within the stadium or as part of the official match presentation.
The Egyptian federation objected to "the holding of any activities related to supporting homosexuality," stating that such activities contradict the cultural, religious, and social values prevalent in Arabic and Islamic communities. The Iranian Football Association's statement did not directly reference "pride" or "LGBTQ+" but referred to the movement as "the movement."
SeattleFWC2026, the organizing body, maintains that the match is an "inclusive event" and reaffirms that flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct. Media coverage of SeattleFWC2026's affiliation with Pride weekend began in December 2025, drawing immediate condemnation from the Egyptian and Iranian federations.
Iran is among six countries globally that impose the death penalty for same-sex relations. Homosexuality is not explicitly outlawed in Egypt but is criminalized in practice. The stance of the Iranian regime against homosexuality, rooted in beliefs that it is an illness, was codified in the 1980s.