FIFA has confirmed that rainbow flags will be allowed inside Seattle Stadium during the World Cup match between Egypt and Iran, a game designated as the 'Pride Match' with LGBTQ+ festivities organized around it. The confirmation comes despite complaints from both Iran and Egypt, who attempted to sidestep questions about their reluctance to participate in the celebrations.
FIFA's Stance on Rainbow Flags
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the Pride festivities are arranged by Seattle's organizing committee to coincide with the annual Pride weekend and have 'nothing to do with the match itself.' A FIFA spokesperson stated: '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.'
Iran and Egypt's Objections
Iran and Egypt lodged complaints to FIFA requesting the cancellation of LGBTQ+ events staged around the game. In Iran, LGBTQ+ relationships are illegal, and Egypt has a history of prosecuting queer and trans people. Iran's pre-match press conference began with a statement from their federation requesting all questions be limited to the team, tactics, and the match. Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, said he did not wish to speak about 'anything that is banned in our league.'
'All our thoughts are focused on football, the beautiful game, our people, our success,' 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.'
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan echoed the sentiment: '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. We respect the rules of respect and fair play that are there for everyone to abide by and any guidelines set by FIFA.'
Iran's Previous Complaints
Iran previously complained about feeling like the 'most oppressed' team at the tournament. Unlike their previous two Group G matches, they arrived in Seattle two days before the match. Ghalenoei said the team has been 'deprived' of their rights by being told when they can arrive and depart a host city, and he suggested Infantino was blindsided by restrictions imposed by the US administration.
'Mr Infantino and FIFA did do their utmost to listen to the problems but we weren't encouraged,' Ghalenoei said. 'They didn't give us any bonuses or anything. I know for the past six months Mr Infantino has tried really hard to minimise the challenges we were facing and what happened was not something that Mr Infantino expected.'
Infantino Distances FIFA from Pride Celebrations
In a statement, Infantino distanced FIFA from the Pride celebrations. 'First of all, I must clarify that there will be no 'Pride Match' at the World Cup,' Infantino said. '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.'
