FIFA Allows Rainbow Flags During Egypt v. Iran World Cup Match in Seattle
While Pride flags will be allowed in the stadium during the game, the actual Pride events are taking place outside of it.
Egypt and Iran have filed formal complaints with FIFA over Pride-themed events surrounding their World Cup match in Seattle Friday, but the governing body has confirmed rainbow flags will be permitted inside the stadium.
Both Egypt and Iran criminalize same-sex relations. People have been executed over anti-sodomy laws in Iran. Egypt has seen LGBTQ+ people targeted by authorities.
Ahead of Friday night’s game, both countries have attempted to side-step questions by the press about the Pride-themed event, according to The Guardian.
In a statement to sports news site The Athletic, the Iran national team’s spokesperson did not refer to LGBTQ+ rights or Pride, but referred to “this movement” and said it goes against the countries’ interpretation of Islam.
They said, “Our position is that no ceremonies, or promotional activities associated with this movement should be present inside the stadium or as part of the match environment. This position has been communicated to FIFA through the appropriate channels.”
The Pride Match was arranged by Seattle’s own World Cup organizing committee to coincide with the city’s Pride weekend. No events will be happening within the stadium, under FIFA’s jurisdiction. The plans were laid out before it was known which teams would be playing.
It’s something that FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, continues to emphasize.
“First of all, I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup,” Infantino said, according to the outlets. “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.”
Hedda McLendon, who is on Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee, said the Pride night celebrated the city’s identity.
“It might not be how you want to live or how things are in your country, but this is something that makes us unique, and we want you to experience it and be curious,” McLendon told the BBC.
An official also noted what’s allowed at the games that is related to demonstrating for human rights.
“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,” a spokesperson told the outlet.
The Iranian team has also complained about U.S. restrictions placed on the team amid the U.S.’s ongoing war against the country.
A member of the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission, Andrew Ashiofu, told the Associated Press that the flag would be a “message” to the countries.
“We are a free city, we are a welcoming city who celebrates everyone, every race, every sexual orientation, every gender identity,” he said.
“The match is about Seattle, not Egypt or Iran,” former U.K. soccer player Jess Fishlock, who lives in Seattle and plays for the local team and is part of the host committee, told the BBC. “Regardless of who is playing, we would be the same. It’s such an important part of Seattle’s identity and culture.”
