SEATTLE – World Cup organisers in Seattle said on Dec 10 that their Pride events would go ahead as planned outside a June match in the city between Egypt and Iran, despite objections from sports officials in the two countries where homosexuality is criminalised.
The World Cup committee in Seattle said it would use what it has named the “Pride Match” on June 26 to showcase the city’s annual June Pride Weekend and similar celebrations across Washington state in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
But the organising group stressed that it only worked on events outside the 72,000-seat Seattle Stadium where Egypt and Iran are scheduled to play.
“SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament,” said Hana Tadesse, vice-president of communications for the committee. “We don’t control what happens on the pitch or in the stadium; that’s FIFA’s domain.”
The complaints by the football associations of Iran and Egypt highlight tensions between World Cup rules promoting anti-discrimination, inclusivity and neutrality on political and social matters, and the tournament’s aim to respect the cultures of host countries.
Egypt’s Football Association on Dec 9 said it had sent a letter to FIFA urging the body to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during the national team’s Seattle game, arguing the activities would clash with the cultural and religious values of the two nations playing.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, also called it an “irrational move that supports a certain group”.
The fixture was designated a “Pride Match” by the local World Cup organising committee, which is not affiliated with FIFA, long before the teams were drawn to play one another.
“With hundreds of thousands of visitors and billions of viewers worldwide, this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington,” the Seattle committee said.
June is Pride Month across the United States. But since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders limiting transgender rights, banning transgender people from serving in the armed forces, and rescinding anti-discrimination policies for LGBTQ+ people as part of a campaign to repeal diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
In Egypt, Amnesty International has noted that authorities harass and prosecute individuals for their sexual orientation. Under Iranian law, according to Human Rights Watch, same-sex relations can be punished by flogging and, for men, death.
Controversy over the Pride Match echoes the dispute over “OneLove” armbands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. FIFA threatened yellow cards for players wearing the armbands to protest Qatar’s laws against same-sex relationships, prompting captains from seven European teams not to use them. REUTERS
World Cup 2026Gender issuesUnited StatesEgyptIran