Photo by Wesley Fávero on Unsplash
Iran will face Egypt in a ‘Pride Match’ at next year’s World Cup in Seattle to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
The fixture has been labelled a Pride Match to celebrate the LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the event falling on the weekend anniversary of the Stonewall riots of 1969.
The plans to host the first Pride Match in World Cup history were scheduled before the World Cup draw had taken place on Friday. However, the two nations that have been drawn to play each other have caused quite a stir due to their stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
Despite this, the match will proceed and a Pride Match Advisory Committee (PMAC) has been set up by the Seattle organisers to help with the event.
A spokesperson for PMAC told LGBT news outlet Outsports: “the Pride Match has been scheduled to celebrate and elevate Pride events in Seattle and across the country, and it was planned well in advance.”
“Soccer has the unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs. We are honoured to host a Pride Match and to celebrate Pride as part of a global football community. This match reflects our ongoing commitment to respect, dignity, and unity for all.”
Seattle has hosted Gay Pride week since 1974, with the city celebrating its 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride last year. The famously liberal city has become the centre of LGBTQ+ celebrations, and the fixture between Iran and Egypt will be the latest addition to a vibrant history of Pride in the city.
However, Iran’s view on the LGBTQ+ community differ significantly from those on the northwest coast of the USA. In Iran, those involved in homosexual relations are at risk of facing the death penalty. Meanwhile, sex change is only restricted to birth through sex reassignment surgery.
Egypt is similarly harsh towards LGBTQ+ individuals. The laws within the country do not recognise marriage between people of the same sex, and whilst same-sex couples are not criminalised in Egypt, they still experience oppression from the Egyptian authorities. Those displaying rainbow flags at public events have also faced prosecution.
Criticism from senior figures within the sport have voiced their opinions. The Head of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, expressed his objections to local news agency ISNA. He labelled the match as an “irrational move that supports certain people.”
FIFA have also previously shown their lack of support towards the LGBTQ+ community. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they said yellow cards would be awarded to those wearing OneLove armbands. However, football’s governing body has limited control over the branding of the match as the event has been organised solely by the local committee.
The match provides an opportunity to send out a strong message of support towards the LGBTQ+ community whilst displaying how football is a game for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The first Pride Match in World Cup history will take place on 26 June 2026 at the city’s Lumen Field. A celebration of life and love will commence with the aims of breaking down the barriers that the nations on field continue to uphold.
