World Cup teams from Egypt (which will probably include Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, pictured from Instagram) and Iran have formally asked FIFA to prevent LGBTQ+ Pride activities around their scheduled World Cup match in Seattle on June 26, 2026, arguing that such a celebration would be ‘culturally and religiously contrary’ to their values. According to the original report, both football associations lodged complaints after local organisers proposed branding and events to coincide with the fixture. Both Egypt and Iran have criminal penalties for same-sex sexual relations. FIFA has not publicly responded to the complaints.
Iran’s football chief described the planned branding as an ‘irrational move that supports a certain group’, framing the protest in cultural and religious terms. Speaking through official channels, Iran and Egypt said the Pride activities risked offending large segments of their populations and asked FIFA to halt them ahead of the match.
The dispute raises questions about how global football’s governing body balances human-rights commitments, host-city autonomy and the sensitivities of competing nations. Tournament organisers and local authorities often use marquee fixtures to showcase civic values and inclusivity; in this case those aims have collided with the legal and cultural reality facing the participating teams. FIFA’s response, if any, will set a precedent for how similar tensions are handled in future tournaments.
Human-rights advocates and LGBTQ+ groups argue that staging Pride-adjacent events at global sporting fixtures is an important platform to challenge discrimination and signal inclusion to fans worldwide. Conversely, critics stress that imposing such branding on teams from countries where homosexuality is criminalised may inflame diplomatic and safety concerns for players and supporters.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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