FIFA has reaffirmed that fans won’t be prevented from bringing rainbow flags into Seattle’s Lumen Field for the decisive Group G World Cup clash between Egypt and Iran on Friday, Yankee Scores reports.
Despite protests from each country’s federation, FIFA remained adamant.
The PrideFest Operational Timelines
Since 2007, a nonprofit has been putting on Seattle PrideFest in the city, and had set June 26 as the celebration for the match before FIFA made the World Cup draw.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds,” FIFA said in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
A FIFA official told the media at Thursday’s pre-match press conference that the Iran national team was “only willing to answer questions in relation to the game” before Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei and goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand answered any questions.
“I said we are here to play football. For nothing else,” Ghalenoei said. “Our entire focus is going to be on tomorrow’s game, on succeeding in tomorrow’s game. And, anything else that is banned … we don’t want to speak about it.
FIFA has no formal authority over community events like Seattle PrideFest and only has jurisdiction over stadiums and official fan zones in World Cup host cities.
Dual Federation Objections
But the heads of the football federations in each of those countries publicly denounced the idea, saying such events were against their cultural and religious values, per ESPN.
The Egyptian football federation said in a statement following last year’s draw that it had sent a letter to FIFA “categorically rejecting any activities related to promoting homosexuality during the match.”
On Thursday, FIFA referred media to earlier comments on the matter in January 2026 by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to the German publication Die Weltwoche.
“First of all, 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.”
The Qatar Precedent
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA, fiercely defending the cultural norms of the host nation, said visiting teams should respect them fully.
A group of European federations wanted team captains to wear a “One Love” armband that had a few rainbow colors to represent human rights and diversity. FIFA and Qatari officials saw that in part as a criticism of the emirate’s criminalization of same-sex relations.
Rainbow hats were taken off some Wales fans before they could go into the stadium.
