According to the draw, Egypt and Iran will meet in the World Cup game, which Seattle calls a “Pride Match”. Trouble is programmed – and it’s already starting.
The Egyptian Football Association is protesting in a clear letter to FIFA that the World Cup game against Iran in Seattle is being held as a so-called “Pride Game”. The democratic-liberal US city celebrates the LGBTQ+ community on the last weekend of June 2026. The World Cup draw revealed that two Muslim countries where homosexuality is suppressed will meet on June 26th in Seattle.
Egypt’s association (EFA) pointed out in the letter to the world football association FIFA and its general secretary Mattias Grafström “any activities”, who promote homosexuality during the game. “Such activities contradict the cultural, religious and social values of Arab and Muslim societies,” it said.
Egyptians: No “sensitive or controversial issues”
The EFA referred to Article 4 of the FIFA Statutes, in which the association commits itself to neutrality in political and social issues. The article is intended to ensure that football is not used as a platform “to promote sensitive or controversial issues”, said the EFA. In addition, according to the FIFA disciplinary rules, no actions are permitted that “Aggravate tensions, misunderstandings or conflicts between fans of different backgrounds”.
According to a report, the Iranians had previously reacted very angrily to the scheduling and plans surrounding the game in Seattle. According to the Isna news agency, association head Mehdi Taj spoke of a ““unreasonable action that constitutes support for a particular group”. He indicated that he needed to speak further.
Local organizers are sticking to plans
The plans for the “Pride Match” were already made before the exact encounter on June 26, 2026 was decided. The local World Cup organizers have already announced that they want to stick to it. Among other things, there is a design competition for the game: the final selection is a poster showing a crab wearing goalkeeper gloves and a coffee in its claws, while a sun rises in the background in the LGBTQI+ rainbow colors.
The World Cup organizers in the coastal city in the northwest of the USA emphasized that they have no influence on what happens on the field or in the stadium – but they do have influence on how they present themselves to the visitors. “Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community and culture is an essential part of what makes our city so special, and we look forward to sharing that with the world,” said Hana Tadesse from the local organizing committee.
The English abbreviation LGBTQI+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex people – and the plus sign and the asterisk are placeholders for other identities and genders.
Egypt and Iran take action against homosexuals
Homosexual acts are punishable in Iran and sometimes even carry the death penalty. There are criminal offenses in Egypt “to protect morals or religion”, according to which homosexuality can also be punished, for example in laws on prostitution or general customs.
FIFA did not respond to a request for comment. Organizers in Seattle added that they were trying to accommodate all visitors “to provide the warmth, respect and dignity that characterizes our region.”
scandal Rainbow flag bandage at the 2022 World Cup
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar there was already a stir about the “One Love” captain’s armband, which Germany also wanted to wear. The band had a color similar to the rainbow flag and was intended to stand as a symbol against discrimination and for diversity.
Shortly before the start of the tournament, FIFA banned teams from wearing this armband and threatened sporting sanctions.