FIFA will permit rainbow flags at Egypt-Iran match in Seattle despite objections

By Mason Reed — 26 June 2026 — 4 min read

Seattle’s Pride Match Initiative

The Seattle local organizing committee for the World Cup has moved forward with its “Pride Match” celebrations this week, despite objections from the football federations of Egypt and Iran. These federations had called for the cancellation of LGBTQ+ rights festivities surrounding the match scheduled for Friday in Seattle. The local committee, which operates independently from FIFA, had planned for June 26 to be a Pride-themed match, aligning with the city’s annual Pride weekend.

The decision to brand the match as a “Pride Match” was made before the World Cup draw in December. When Egypt and Iran were drawn to play each other on that date in Seattle, it led to immediate condemnation from both countries. The Seattle FWC26 committee’s website features a dedicated page for the Pride Matchday and held a press briefing on Thursday.

Hedda McLendon, senior vice president of legacy for SeattleFWC26, stated that “Pride Match Day” was always intended to be more than just the soccer match, describing it as a citywide celebration of visibility, belonging, and community. She emphasized that it provides an opportunity to showcase a place where the LGBT community is a protected class.

Federation Objections and FIFA’s Stance

The Iran Football Federation formally requested that FIFA prevent any “ceremonies or promotional activities” supporting the LGBTQ+ community at the match between Egypt and Iran. They also sought to restrict symbols or representations of the Pride movement at Lumen Field. In a statement, the Iran Football Federation referred to the LGBTQ+ community as “this movement” and communicated its position to FIFA, stressing that no associated activities should occur within the stadium or as part of the match environment.

The Egyptian Football Association also appealed to FIFA, stating its categorical rejection of any activities promoting LGBTQ+ during the match. The association warned that such events could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities among fans. Both federations highlighted their shared cultural and religious values as Muslim countries.

Despite these objections, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that it is permitting rainbow flags at all of its World Cup matches this summer. In a statement, FIFA described the World Cup 2026 as an “inclusive event” that welcomes people from all backgrounds. It added that “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 if used consistently with the code.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously attempted to downplay the “Pride Match” branding in January, clarifying that there would be no official “Pride Match” at the World Cup. He noted that events organized by external organizations in the city on the same day were separate from the match itself.

Local Support and Broader Context

The Seattle organizers, including representatives from Seattle Reign FC, Seattle Sounders FC, the Seattle Sports Commission, and the Seattle Seahawks, conceived the “Pride Match” branding. While FIFA’s central headquarters was not involved in this initiative, the main programming planned by the Seattle host committee is intended to be outside the stadium perimeter, which is not under FIFA’s direct jurisdiction.

The selection of Egypt and Iran for the Pride Match created a predicament, as both nations criminalize same-sex relations. The Human Dignity Trust notes that the Iranian state imposes a maximum penalty of death for same-sex sexual activity, while Egypt prohibits it with provisions for prison sentences and fines.

Jaelynn Scott, executive director of the Lavender Rights Project and a volunteer on the SeattleFWC26 committee, emphasized that Seattle is a welcoming sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ individuals. She stated that the committee is not deterred by the backlash and that Seattle is a very queer and trans city year-round. Bookda Gheisar, an Iranian-American social justice activist in Seattle, highlighted the significance of having the match coincide with Iran’s game, seeing it as an opportunity for queer Iranians to celebrate their identity and unify.

The tensions surrounding the Seattle Pride Match echo similar issues from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where European countries abandoned plans to wear rainbow armbands after FIFA threatened sanctions. The Seattle host committee has not set out any in-stadium activation, but local soccer fans in Seattle may bring rainbow flags to Lumen Field on June 26.

Source: nytimes.com

Mason Reed

Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.