FIFA confirms rainbow flags permitted at Egypt v Iran World Cup clash in Seattle

FIFA has confirmed that supporters may display rainbow flags at the World Cup 2026 Group G fixture between Egypt and Iran in Seattle on 27 June, overriding formal objections from both nations’ football associations.

The match has been designated the “Pride Match” by Seattle’s local World Cup organising committee — a decision made ahead of the December draw that paired the two Muslim-majority nations, in both of which homosexuality is a criminal offence.

Egypt’s Football Association argued the designation conflicts with its cultural and religious values. The Iranian Football Federation was quoted as stating that no “promotional activities” connected to the LGBTQ+ movement should be present inside the stadium.

FIFA addressed both objections directly in a statement issued on Thursday. “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” it read. “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.”

The governing body was nonetheless careful to distance itself from the wider Pride events planned around the fixture. FIFA President Gianni Infantino told Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche in January: “I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup. There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle and, on the same day, events organised by external organisations will be taking place in the city. But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Asexual Association (ILGA) monitors global legislation on homosexuality. According to a 2023 BBC report citing ILGA data, the death penalty is the legally prescribed punishment for same-sex sexual acts in Iran.

FIFA’s position marks a notable shift from its stance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the governing body threatened yellow cards for captains wearing the “OneLove” armband, citing regulations on political slogans inside stadiums.