Despite objections from both nations, FIFA has confirmed that fans will be allowed to bring Pride rainbow flags into Saturday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle.
The 5 a.m. (South Africa time) fixture has been dubbed the “Pride Match” because it coincides with the host city’s Pride weekend.
Ironically, in December 2025, Egypt and Iran were drawn to face one another in the game. Both countries criminalise LGBTQ+ people and have appalling records of discriminating against sexual and gender minorities.
Egypt and Iran Oppose Pride Association
The football federations of Egypt and Iran complained to FIFA about the match’s association with the LGBTQ+ community, arguing that it conflicts with their national laws, cultural values and religious beliefs.
An Iranian football spokesperson told The Athletic that the position reflected the fact that both nations are “Muslim countries with deep cultural and religious commonalities… shared by the people of both countries.”
The spokesperson added: “Our position is that no ceremonies, or promotional activities associated with this movement [the LGBTQ+ community] should be present inside the stadium or as part of the match environment.”
FIFA Confirms Rainbow Flags Are Permitted
In a statement issued on Thursday, FIFA addressed the controversy by confirming that supporters will be permitted to bring Pride and other LGBTQ+-related flags into the stadium.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” FIFA said.
It continued: “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.”
Same-sex intimacy is criminalised in Egypt under public morality and indecency laws and can result in imprisonment.
Iran remains one of only a handful of countries that imposes the death penalty, as well as flogging and imprisonment, for people found “guilty” of same-sex intimacy.
Peter Tatchell Challenges FIFA Over Gay Players
Meanwhile, British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is in Seattle calling on FIFA to secure confirmation from Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Senegal, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Algeria that no player would be excluded from their national team because they are gay.
Tatchell argues that by failing to select openly LGBTQ+ players, these countries may be violating FIFA’s statutes, which prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
“FIFA is staging a Pride Match between Iran and Egypt while refusing to say whether it has checked if either country would select a gay footballer. That is a shocking failure of governance and accountability,” asserted Tatchell.
“FIFA cannot simply hand responsibility back to national associations from countries that criminalise homosexuality and pretend its anti-discrimination rules are being enforced.”
“If FIFA has not asked these teams whether gay players can be selected, it has no evidence that they comply with its own rules. This exposes the hypocrisy at the heart of FIFA’s Pride Match. LGBTQ+ fans may be welcome as spectators, but FIFA has failed to ensure LGBTQ+ players are welcome as footballers,” said Tatchell.
