FIFA makes decision about World Cup 2026 ‘Pride Match’ between Egypt and Iran
FIFA has confirmed that Seattle's 'Pride Match' will go ahead, despite objections from Egypt and Iran.
Last year, it was revealed that Seattle was planning to turn its World Cup game hosted on 26 June into a Pride Match, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in the city.
The match coincides with the city's annual Pride Weekend, with a parade taking place on the Sunday.
However, the plans were thrown into doubt when Egypt and Iran, two countries where LGBTQ+ relationships are an offence punishable by hard labour or death, drew the match.
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Egypt's football association appealed to FIFA for the plans to be overturned, citing article four of FIFA's statutes, which emphasises 'neutrality in political and social matters during FIFA competitions'.
"These activities directly conflict with the cultural, religious and social values of the region, particularly in Arab and Islamic societies," the appeal letter read.
Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, reportedly said that his country had raised 'objections' to an 'irrational move that supports a certain group'.
Pride flags to be allowed inside the venue
Despite objections from both the Egyptian and Iranian teams, FIFA will allow fans to bring pride flags inside the venue.
"The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds," FIFA said in a statement on Thursday.
"Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events."
The statement went on to reshare the previously published code for the tournament, adding: "General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums provided they are used in a manner consistent with the code."
The decision comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino previously released a statement reiterating that any Pride celebrations had been arranged by Seattle's organising committee and have 'nothing to do with the match itself'.
"First of all, I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup," Infantino said in a statement back in January.
"There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organised by external organisations will be taking place in the city.
"But that has nothing to do with the match itself."
Both Egypt and Iran have since attempted to sidestep any questions about the LGBTQ+ celebrations at the match, with both teams releasing statements saying they are focused on football.
"We are all focused on football, it is all we think about and FIFA is of course taking care of the organisational side. We are concerned with football on the pitch," Egypt's head coach, Hossam Hassan, said.
"We are concerned with football on the pitch. We respect the rules of respect and fair play that are there for everyone to abide by and any guidelines set by FIFA."
Meanwhile, Iran's Football Federation requested that all questions at the team's pre-match conference be about football.
"All our thoughts are focused on football, the beautiful game, our people, our success," head coach Amir Ghalenoei said.
"We are going to be positive, we are not going to think about any other issues. We seek to bring joy to our people. When the game starts, all of our focus is going to be on the pitch, we’re not going to be thinking about what’s going to be going on off the pitch. The game is going to be exciting, arduous and our focus has to be on football and nothing else.
"We are only going to speak about football."
2026 World Cup results so far
Friday, 26 June
Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, 3-1
Group F: Japan vs Sweden 1-1
Group D: Turkey vs USA 3-2
Group D: Paraguay vs Australia 0-0
Thursday, 25 June
Group A: South Africa vs South Korea 1-0
Group A: Mexico vs Czech Republic, 3-0
Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Ecuador, 2-1
Wednesday, 24 June
Group C: Brazil vs Scotland, 3-0
Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, 4-2
Group B: Qatar vs Bosnia-Herzegovnia, 3-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, 2-1
Group L: Panama vs Croatia, 1-0
Group L: Colombia vs DR Congo, 1-0
Tuesday, 23 June
Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 3-2
Group J: Algeria vs Jordan, 2-1
Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 5-0
Group L: England vs Ghana, 0-0
Monday, 22 June
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 1-3
Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 2-0
Group I: France vs Iraq, 3-0
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao, 0-0
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 0-4
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 0-0
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 4-0
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 2-2
Saturday, 20 June
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 3-0
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 0-1
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 2-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 5-1
Friday, 19 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 1-0
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 0-1
Group D: USA vs Australia, 2-0
Thursday 18 June
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 1-0
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 1-3
Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, 1-1
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-1
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 6-0
Wednesday 17 June
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 1-1
Group L: England vs Croatia, 4-2
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 3-0
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 3-1
Tuesday 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 2-2
Group I: France vs Senegal, 3-1
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 1-4
Monday, 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 1-0
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 5-1
Sunday, 14 June
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 0-1
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 2-0
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 7-1
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 2-2
Saturday, 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 4-1
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 1-1
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 1-1
Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 2-1
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1-1
Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 2-0
Brenna Cooper