By Ajish P Joy
Plans to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights in Seattle during next year’s football World Cup are expected to go ahead notwithstanding formal objections from the Egyptian and Iranian football federations over the designated Pride Match. The fixture is scheduled for June 26 at Lumen Field and features Egypt and Iran in a Group G meeting. The choice of teams has created a cultural and political clash, since the host city intends to use the global tournament to champion inclusion, while both visiting nations enforce laws that criminalise same sex relationships.
The Pride Match concept was devised long before the tournament draw determined which countries would play in Seattle. The local organising committee planned the event to coincide with the city’s official Pride weekend and the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, widely regarded as a starting point of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Seattle’s committee hoped to present the match as a platform to celebrate the city’s long record of LGBTQ+ advocacy and to shine a spotlight on Pride festivities across Washington State and the wider United States. Plans include rainbow-themed banners, flags, artwork, installations, personal stories and a design competition that invites local artists to create pieces celebrating LGBTQ+ communities for display around the city.
Seattle’s committee describes the match as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people on a global stage. Organisers say they want all visitors to experience the warmth, respect and dignity that they believe characterise the Pacific Northwest. The intention is to send an international message of inclusivity and to demonstrate how football can bring communities together.
The decision to designate the match was uncontroversial until Egypt and Iran were paired with Seattle and with each other. Both countries maintain strict laws against same sex relationships. In Iran, homosexual acts can carry the death penalty. In Egypt, authorities often use morality laws to target LGBTQ+ individuals and public expressions of queer identity. These laws, together with conservative social norms, have led both federations to reject any association between their match and Pride celebrations.
The Egyptian Football Association sent a formal letter to FIFA’s secretary general, Mattias Grafstrom, requesting that the celebrations be cancelled. The association said it rejected in absolute terms any activities connected to LGBTQ+ support during the fixture. It argued that the planned celebrations contradict the cultural, religious and social values of both Egypt and Iran. The federation called on FIFA to maintain political and social neutrality and to ensure that the match focuses solely on football without promoting causes that it considers sensitive or contentious.
Iran’s football chief Mehdi Taj voiced similar concerns. He described the Pride Match concept as an irrational move that favours what he called a specific group. He also expressed concern that the United States might deny visas to Iranian players. The Trump administration has stated that athletes and support staff from countries affected by its travel ban, including Iran, will be granted visas for the World Cup, although fans from those nations will not.
Despite the pressure, Seattle’s local organising committee has remained firm. The committee said it was proceeding with planned community programming. Hana Tedesse, vice president of communications for Seattle Fifa World Cup 2026, emphasised that the local committee is responsible for the citywide experience outside the stadium itself. She explained that the committee’s plans relate to events around Seattle during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament. Tedesse also noted that the region is home to large Iranian American and Egyptian communities, and that football has a unique ability to unite people across different cultures and beliefs.
A key element of the dispute is that the Pride Match is a local initiative rather than a FIFA programme. FIFA retains operational control of the stadium on match days, while the Seattle committee oversees external festivities. FIFA’s policy on fan expression is also relevant. Although banners with political messages are banned, the organisation permits flags that convey sporting and social symbols. This category includes the rainbow flag, which means supporters inside the stadium will likely be able to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities regardless of the competing nations’ objections.
