Iran and Egypt faced off on Friday in the World Cup’s “Pride Match” in Seattle.
Iran is one of the few countries where consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death. Discrimination and persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity are common in Egypt.
Friday’s game coincided with Pride weekend in Seattle. Both the Egyptian Football Association and the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation opposed participation in the Pride Match.
Egypt and Iran drew 1-1.
FIFA has allowed pride flags to be flown inside stadiums during matches.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is an inclusive event that welcomes people of all backgrounds,” a FIFA spokesperson told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events. General human rights declarations, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation or gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums if used in a manner consistent with the Code.”
Human Rights Watch welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow Pride flags to be displayed inside stadiums. Outright International, a global LGBTQ and intersex rights organization, distributed Pride flags in Seattle on Friday, which was Pride Match Day.
“Visibility is important,” says Outright International Executive Director Maria Sjodin. “Pride is being celebrated in more than 100 countries, including this weekend in Seattle. For many LGBTIQ people, seeing the Pride flag in public is a reminder that they are not alone and that their rights and dignity are recognized.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Swiss magazine Die Welttwoche earlier this year that there will be no “Pride Match” at the (FIFA) World Cup.
“There will be a FIFA World Cup game in Seattle, and on the same day there will be an event hosted by an outside organization in the city,” Infantino said. “But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
Peter Tatchell, a longtime British LGBTQ activist and chairman of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, was among those in Seattle for Friday’s game. Tatchell accused FIFA of not vetting World Cup teams, particularly Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Algeria, to see if they would allow gay players to compete.
“FIFA protects LGBT+ visibility in the stands, but fails to protect LGBT+ players on the pitch,” Tatchell said.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
