Iran and Egypt ask FIFA to block Pride messages at Seattle World Cup match

Iran and Egypt have formally asked FIFA to prevent any activities, ceremonies, or messages linked to the LGBTQ community at their World Cup match, set for early Saturday morning Israel time, 6:00 a.m., in Seattle. The request specifically targets rainbow symbols and comes as the game has been tied to a local Pride initiative.

The dispute began after Seattle organizers designated the June 26 match at Lumen Field as a “Pride match,” saying it would be the first of its kind in World Cup history. The organizing committee created a dedicated event page and held a press conference ahead of the match. FIFA president Gianni Infantino earlier tried to calm the controversy, saying there would be no official “Pride match” in the tournament and that this was simply a World Cup game in Seattle, alongside unrelated local events in the city.

The Iranian football federation said Iran and Egypt share similar religious and cultural values, and oppose any promotion of what it called “the movement” around the match. It said it had passed its position to FIFA through official channels and expected the governing body to take steps to stop such activities inside the stadium. Egypt’s football federation also strongly objected, saying it “rejects any activity related to supporting homosexuality during the match against Iran,” and argued that such events conflict with accepted cultural, religious, and social values in the Arab and Muslim world.

Both countries criminalize same-sex relations, and in Iran the maximum penalty can be death. According to Human Dignity Trust, there is evidence that both states have enforced these laws in recent years. Most of the planned Pride-related events in Seattle are expected to take place outside the stadium and therefore outside FIFA’s direct authority, but the pairing of Iran and Egypt with a Pride-linked fixture has made the game one of the most controversial in the group stage.