Egypt and Iran pressure Fifa to scrap LGBTQ+ Pride match at 2026 World Cup

Iran have joined Egypt in formally requesting the cancellation of an LGBTQ+ celebration at their 2026 World Cup match next summer.

Organisers in host city Seattle, which will stage the nations’ Group G fixture on June 27 (NZT), had said that the fixture will be the “Pride Match” to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

New Zealand’s All Whites are also in Group G, along with Belgium.

The match is scheduled for the weekend of Seattle Pride and shortly ahead of the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, an event which is one of the most significant in the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States.

These plans were put in place, however, before the identity of the two competing teams was decided at the weekend’s World Cup draw in Washington.

Homosexuality can be punished in Iran by the death penalty and is highly stigmatised in Egypt. The Egyptian FA was first to react, writing to Fifa secretary-general Mattias Grafström to outline its “absolute” rejection of any activities linked to LGBTQ+ support during the match.

Now the president of Iran’s Football Federation has criticised the plans as he vowed to bring up the issue during a Fifa meeting planned in Qatar in the coming weeks.

“Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point,” Mehdi Taj told Iranian state television.

Taj had already threatened to boycott the World Cup draw over complaints about Iranian officials not receiving visas from the United States to attend the ceremony in Washington. He ended up attending, however, despite Iranians remaining subject to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Egyptian letter of complaint over Pride had said: “In order to maintain the spirit of unity and peace, it is necessary to avoid including activities that could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities between fans present from both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially since such activities are culturally and religiously incompatible with the two countries.

“The federation also relied on Fifa’s established principle of respecting cultures and encouraging all parties to organise events in a way that respects the beliefs and identities of the participating communities.

“Therefore, in order to ensure that the match is held in an atmosphere of respect and focus solely on the sporting aspect, the Egyptian Federation categorically rejects these calls and demands that Fifa not hold any events or performances related to supporting homosexuality inside the stadium on match day.”

The Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee was confident that the LGBTQ+ “Pride Match” celebration would still go ahead following the World Cup draw.

“The Egypt v Iran match in Seattle in June just happens to be the Pride Match, and I think that is a good thing, actually,” Eric Wahl, a member of PMAC, said.

“There are LGBTQAI+ people everywhere. All are welcome to be themselves in Seattle.”