Iranian officials had a statement read aloud, and Egypt’s national coach Hossam Hassan walked away from the issue: coaches and players of both national teams did not want to engage in debates about the match dubbed the Pride Match ahead of their World Cup showdown. They asked to be asked only about sports matters, before the Iranian press conference with coach Amir Ghalenoei and goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand in Seattle began.
The request was only partly granted. For instance, Ghalenoei was asked whether he had prepared his players for possible rainbow flags in the stands. That, he noted, is a sports question. “When the game starts, our full focus is on the field and not on what’s happening off the field,” said the 62-year-old. Later, in reference to the uproar around the “Pride Match”: “We don’t want to talk about it. We just want to talk about football and what a great game it will be.”
His Egyptian national-team colleague had previously expressed himself similarly. “As a coach I’m focused only on football. That’s all I think about,” said Hossam Hassan.
Protest Has No Effect
In Seattle, Pride events are slated for the weekend, including a downtown parade and numerous concerts. Local World Cup organizers had already decided, before the draw, to designate the match as a Pride Match for the German-language night into Saturday (5:00 a.m. local time, CEST). After the Egypt vs. Iran pairing was set for that slot, discussions quickly followed (TheColu.mn reported).
Both nations are far from sharing the values of a Pride festival. They protested before the tournament to FIFA against the city’s plan to celebrate the match as a “Pride Match” — to no avail (TheColu.mn reported).
The local organizers themselves see the designation as an opportunity. “For us it’s even more a chance to welcome people,” Hedda McLendon of the local organizing committee told the German press agency. “It goes beyond politics, beyond religion. For us it’s really about our city, and I’m sure visitors coming for the World Cup, especially here in Seattle, will learn what makes this city unique.”
Rainbow Flags in the Stadium Are Permitted
While FIFA isn’t taking part with its own actions in the Pride Match, rainbow flags, other symbols, or expressions of opinion that Egypt and Iran may not like can still appear.
In a statement to The Athletic, FIFA said it views this World Cup as an “inclusive event” and added that “rainbow flags and other signs promoting sexual orientation and gender identity are allowed under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Conduct Code.”
“Pride March” Also Not Uncontroversial in the Community
The Pride Match between the two homophobic-leaning nations does not enjoy unanimous support within the LGBTQI community either. “A Pride Match can be an important message of solidarity between communities,” said Gurchaten Sandhu, program director of the queer global federation ILGA World, in a Thursday statement. Visibility matters as well: “LGBTQI people belong in football, in stadiums, in fan zones, and in every host city.”
However, solidarity and visibility must come with responsibility, accountability, and a harm-reduction approach, Sandhu cautioned — especially toward communities in countries with hostile laws: “If this game is to be held under the Pride banner, FIFA and the local organizers must be able to answer: Who was consulted, who is protected, and who bears the risk when the cameras are off?”
