The recent announcement from Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is not accepted, has led to significant backlash. This follows FIFA’s choice to schedule a 2026 World Cup match in Seattle on the same weekend as an LGBTQI+ pride event.
Local organizers have labeled the June 26 match as a “Pride Match”, aligning it with Seattle’s Pride weekend.
Both Egypt and Iran are currently facing protests, claiming that this issue offends their “cultural and social values,” as well as Islamic beliefs.
On Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Federation stated that it had sent a formal notice to FIFA, firmly rejecting any pro-LGBTQ+ activities during the matches.
Seattle Pridefest, organized by a nonprofit since 2007, intends to celebrate the June 26 game even before FIFA finalizes the tournament schedule, as reported by The Associated Press.
FIFA made the decision to hold the Egypt-Iran match in Seattle rather than Vancouver, resulting in Belgium and New Zealand playing at the same time.
“With Juneteenth games and pride, we can show the world that everyone is welcome in Seattle,” stated Kate Wilson, the city’s mayor-elect, on social media, calling it an incredible honor.
The Associated Press points out that while FIFA oversees stadiums and official fan areas in host cities, it doesn’t have direct control over local events like Seattle Pridefest.
In Iran, where LGBTQ+ individuals face severe penalties, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, criticized the match during a televised interview.
Taj mentioned that he would bring this matter to a FIFA board meeting in Qatar next week. Egypt’s Hany Abo Rida is the longest-serving member of FIFA’s 37-member council, presided over by Gianni Infantino.
“Egypt and we oppose this. It’s an irrational move, basically endorsing a specific group, which we need to address clearly,” Taj remarked. Iranian state television confirmed that they would submit a complaint to FIFA.
The Egyptian Football Federation, under Abo Rida, expressed its total rejection of the Pride event, deeming it incompatible with the cultural, religious, and social values of the region, particularly within Arab and Islamic societies.
The 2026 World Cup is set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
