Fans will be allowed to bring rainbow flags when Egypt face Iran in Seattle’s designated “Pride Match” at the World Cup, FIFA said on Thursday, setting up an awkward collision between local celebrations and two nations where homosexuality is criminalised.
Friday’s group game falls on Seattle’s Pride weekend, a scheduling quirk that emerged only after December’s draw pitted the two Muslim-majority countries against each other.
“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.”
FIFA added that items will be allowed provided they are used “in a manner consistent with the code,” which limits the size of flags or banners and prohibits items deemed “political.”
FIFA has distanced itself from the Pride festivities, emphasising that the celebrations are organised by Seattle’s local World Cup committee and not the global soccer body.
“I must clarify that there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino told Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche in January.
“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.”
–Reuters–
