Seattle’s local organizing committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is planning to hold the first Pride Match at Lumen Field on June 26, in conjunction with the city’s Pride Weekend, but the scheduled match will pit two countries, Iran and Egypt, which criminalize homosexuality, against each other.
The Pride-adjacent brand was created by the host city rather than international soccer’s governing body FIFA, which has not endorsed the designation.
When FIFA was planning the game schedule, Seattle was scheduled to host either New Zealand vs. Belgium or Egypt vs. Iran on June 26th. In the end, Vancouver got the New Zealand-Belgium game, and Seattle reportedly got Egypt-Iran. out sports.
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and punishable by death. Homosexuality is not explicitly outlawed in Egypt, but authorities routinely use public order, anti-prostitution, and “debauchery” laws to prosecute LGBTQ people, imposing sentences ranging from three months to 10 years in prison.
Officials say the process for changing a match or rebranding another match as a “Pride Match” is extremely complicated.
Seattle has already hosted a game between the U.S. men’s national team and Australia on June 19, coinciding with the city’s Juneteenth celebrations. Other group stage matches on June 15th and 24th will see Egypt or Qatar face each other. Qatar is another country that criminalizes homosexuality, which can carry a prison sentence, and Muslims can receive the death penalty under Sharia courts, although it has never been carried out.
The city will also host Round of 32 matches on July 1st and Round of 16 matches on July 6th, but neither date coincides with any recognized public holidays or existing Pride celebrations.
A spokesperson for the Pride Match Advisory Committee said in a statement: “The Pride Match is designed to celebrate and uplift Pride events in Seattle and across the country and has been planned for some time.” Out sports. “This is a host city-led statement of Seattle and Washington State’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone – players, fans, residents and visitors – can belong.”
Both Egypt and Iran have filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding the Seattle Pride event be canceled and the “Pride” brand removed from the match.
In a letter to FIFA, the Egyptian Football Association claimed that the Pride Match event goes against the country’s “cultural, religious and social values” and warned that LGBTQ-themed activities could “cause sensitivities,” according to the Seattle NBC affiliate. king tv.
The president of Iran’s Football Federation said the Pride Match branding was “absurd” and claimed the country was protesting FIFA and violating the federation’s long tradition of political neutrality.
Despite opposition, Seattle FWC26, the city’s organizing committee for the 2026 World Cup, supports the plan. “To enhance existing Pride celebrations across Washington, we will partner with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to advance community programming outside of stadiums throughout Pride weekend and during the convention,” said Hannah Tadesse, the committee’s vice president of communications.
FIFA manages the stadium operations on match days and there are currently no plans to allow Pride inside the venue.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
