Row over gay celebrations at World Cup match

Seattle will be the venue of the match between Egypt and Iran

The organisation behind the LGBTQ+ ‘Pride Match’ at the 2026 World Cup says it intends to push forward with plans despite Egypt objecting to Fifa.

The Egyptian Football Association said it has sent a formal letter to Fifa requesting the celebrations around their group game against Iran do not go ahead.

The local organising committee in Seattle, one of the host cities for the tournament next summer, said the match at Lumen Field on 26 June will feature celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community.

Seattle will host the Group G match between Egypt and Iran - countries where homosexuality is illegal.

In a statement on Tuesday the Egyptian FA said it has sent a formal letter to Fifa secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, rejecting “in absolute terms” any activities linked to LGBTQ+ support during the match.

But the local organising committee told the BBC that it is “moving forward as planned with our community programming”.

The game takes place on the weekend of Seattle Pride, and two days before the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots - generally regarded as the birth of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Plans were put in place before the teams involved in the fixture were selected, or the draw for the World Cup was made, and has been organised solely by the local committee and not affiliated with Fifa itself.

In Iran the maximum punishment for homosexual relations is the death penalty, while in Egypt morality laws are frequently used suppress LGBTQ+ rights and relationships.

The lengthy Egyptian FA statement claimed the initiative would clash with “the cultural, religious and social values” of Egypt and Iran, and urged Fifa to ensure the match would remain focused on football.

It cited Fifa’s statutes on political and social neutrality, arguing matches should not be used to promote causes that are “sensitive or of a contentious nature”.

The statement read: “The Egyptian Football Association explained in the letter that, while Fifa is committed to ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment for all fans, and in order to maintain the spirit of unity and peace, it is necessary to avoid including activities that could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities between fans present from both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially since such activities are culturally and religiously incompatible with the two countries”.

 (BBC sport)