The Iranian national anthem was met with loud boos from a segment of the crowd at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday night, prior to the team's World Cup match against Egypt. This incident marked the third consecutive time the anthem was jeered before an Iranian team fixture during the tournament.
Protests against the Iranian government were visible outside the stadium before the match. Demonstrators waved the pre-revolutionary flag, which features a lion and sun, and displayed images of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah and a prominent opposition figure. These flags, reportedly banned by FIFA, were more numerous than Pride flags in the vicinity. Chants of “they are terrorists, they must go” were heard before clashes erupted between protestors and Iranian fans supporting the team.
The match between Iran and Egypt, a Group G clash with implications for World Cup knockout stage advancement, coincidentally fell on the scheduled date for FIFA's Pride match. The participation of both nations in a Pride-themed event drew criticism given their respective records on LGBTQ+ rights. Same-sex relations are illegal in Iran, where individuals have faced execution on sodomy charges. Egypt has prosecuted individuals for same-sex relations and suppressed outward displays of LGBTQ+ pride.
Ahead of the match, a FIFA official, Daniel Marin, executive director of public relations, read a statement on behalf of the Iranian team. Marin stated that the Islamic Republic of the Iran Football Federation requested that media interactions be limited to questions concerning the game itself. "We fully respect the right of all journalists to ask questions. In this case, we ask you respect the rights of the federation here today to only answer questions in relation to the team, the tactics, the match, and so on," Marin said.
Despite the directive, Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei was questioned about the events surrounding the stadium. The Egyptian team also attempted to redirect media attention to football matters. During their practice session, Egyptian players were reportedly prevented by team staff from answering questions related to Pride festivities. Coach Hossam Hassan stated, "We are all focused on football. This is all that we think about."
The anthem's reception before Iran's opening games against New Zealand and Belgium had been similarly hostile. The protests and booing reflect ongoing dissent against the Iranian regime.
