FIFA clashes with Iran, Egypt over rainbow symbols at World Cup Pride Match
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South Africa Upsets South KoreaMexico Marches Into KnockoutsThird-Place QualifiersBracketPlayers to WatchKnockout Round PossibilitiesFIFA clashes with Iran, Egypt over rainbow symbols at World Cup Pride Match
FIFA says it permits rainbow symbols in venues at the World Cup. Joseph Weiser / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
By Adam CraftonJune 24, 2026 Updated June 25, 2026 9:52 am EDTThe Iran Football Federation wants FIFA to prevent any “ceremonies or promotional activities” in support of the LGBTQ+ community at a much discussed “Pride Match” between Egypt and Iran on Friday in Seattle, as well as restricting symbols or representations of the Pride movement at Lumen Field.
Since Seattle was confirmed to have a June 26 World Cup fixture, the city’s host committee has been preparing activations to mark the occasion, with the match at Lumen Field fixed as Egypt vs. Iran following the draw last December. The Seattle FWC26 committee’s website has a page dedicated to the Pride Matchday and it is holding a Pride Match Day press briefing on Thursday.
FIFA told The Athletic on Wednesday it is permitting rainbow flags at all of its World Cup matches this summer.
However, the FIFA President Gianni Infantino attempted to play down the “Pride Match” branding in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Weltwoche in January. He said: “I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the (FIFA) World Cup. There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day, events organised by external organizations will be taking place in the city. But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
In a statement to The Athletic on Wednesday night, the Iran Football Federation did not call the LGBTQ+ community by name, simply referring to it as “this movement.”
Infantino said “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ in January (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)In response to an enquiry by The Athletic, a spokesperson for the Iran national team said: “The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran takes this matter seriously and has clearly communicated its position to FIFA.
“Iran and Egypt are two Muslim countries with deep cultural and religious commonalities, and the views expressed by both federations reflects the values and beliefs shared by the people of both countries.
“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.
“We believe FIFA should take into account the views and concerns of the participating teams when considering matters related to the match environment and stadium presentation.
“FIFA has been informed of this shared position by both countries and is expected to take the necessary steps to ensure that no related ceremonies or promotional activities take place within the stadium or as part of the official match environment.”
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The spokesperson added that the Iranian federation has relayed to FIFA that it does not wish to see symbols or representations of the “movement” within the stadium.
In a statement on Wednesday to The Athletic, FIFA said it considers this World Cup to be an “inclusive event” and added that “rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct.”
The branding by Seattle organizers — with its committee having representation on its board from executives from Seattle Reign FC of the NWSL, MLS team Seattle Sounders FC, the Seattle Sports Commission, and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, as well as Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer — of the “Pride Match” was decided in advance of the World Cup draw being made in December.
FIFA’s central headquarters did not have a role in the Pride initiative, which was conceived by the Seattle host committee, and it is not clear what has actually been planned within the stadium itself for matchday.
The local host committees do not have the power or scope to impose initiatives inside tournament venues, as all World Cup programming is led by FIFA’s centrally. According to sources familiar with the planning, the main programming planned by the Seattle host committee is intended to be outside of the stadium perimeter, which is not under FIFA’s jurisdiction. As of Wednesday evening, the Seattle host committee did not set out any in-stadium activation, but local soccer fans in Seattle may wish to bring rainbow flags in on the occasion of Pride weekend.
The broad-brush description of a Pride Match back in December, widely reported by global media, appeared to give the impression that there would be an organized Pride feature in Lumen Field.
As such, when the group-stage fixture schedule was confirmed, the Seattle committee encountered a predicament: the Pride Match was suddenly Egypt vs. Iran, meaning a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community as shoulder programming for a game involving two nations that criminalize same-sex relations. This immediately triggered a backlash from the soccer federations of Egypt and Iran, both of whom immediately sought to halt any link to Pride events.
Lumen Field will host FIFA’s Pride Match on Friday. (Alex Grimm / Getty Images)The Human Dignity Trust says the Iranian state criminalizes gay people, as well as same-sex sexual activity, and ultimately imposes a maximum penalty of death under its penal code. It also says Egypt prohibits same-sex sexual activity, with provisions for prison sentences and fines.
The Iranian Football Federation was critical in December. Al Jazeera reported that month that the federation’s president, Mehdi Taj, told local news agency ISNA both his country and Egypt had raised “objections against the issue”. He described it as “an irrational move that supports a certain group.”
In a post on the Egyptian Football Association’s X account and statement on its website, it said it would refuse “the holding of any activities related to supporting homosexuality” during the game with Iran.
The association added it sent an official letter to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom to say it had been made aware of the local committee’s planning to hold “some activities related to supporting homosexuality during that match, and that they (Egyptian FA) completely refuse these activities, which directly contradicts with the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in the Arabic and Islamic communities”.
For several months, FIFA remained cautious in its messaging on the matter, initially refusing to comment, with Seattle local organizers refusing to back down on the branding around the game.
In a report published this week, Hedda McLendon of Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee told Kiro7 news channel that “one of the things that makes us unique is our culture of inclusion.” She said that Egypt and Iran are “just two of 65 countries around the world that criminalizes homosexuality and there is an opportunity for everybody to do better when it comes to LGBTQ inclusion.”
The Athletic was told recently by sources familiar with the talks, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, that there were some even some attempts in the lead-up to the World Cup by the two federations (Egypt and Iran) to ensure that all Pride-related branding around the game and across FIFA-related touch points across the city be removed altogether — an ask which FIFA did not agree to, such was the desire of the host committee and local Seattle politicians and organizers to press ahead.
FIFA added in its statement Wednesday: “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events.
“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.”
The Egyptian FA has been approached for comment.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
