FIFA has confirmed that fans will be allowed to bring rainbow flags when Iran faces Egypt in this weekend’s controversial ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup.
The fixture, between two countries where hom0s£xuality is outlawed, is meant to honour the LGBTQ+ community and was pencilled in before it was known which teams would be involved. It will be held in Seattle and coincides with the city’s annual Pride Weekend.
The announcement of the ‘Pride Match’ sparked a bitter row involving the two Muslim countries, with Egypt writing a strongly worded letter to FIFA.
The country’s football association said it ‘completely rejected’ any initiatives related to supporting homosexuality, which are described as ‘directly contrary to cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies’.
Iran adopted a similar stance, arguing that the move was a violation of FIFA rules which prohibit political, religious or ideological messaging inside stadiums.
Mehdi Taj, president of the country’s football association, described the ‘Pride Match’ initiative as ‘unreasonable conduct that supports a specific group’ in an interview with state television.
In spite of those complaints, FIFA will not stop fans from bringing rainbow flags into Seattle Stadium for the fixture, according to The Telegraph.
A spokesperson for the governing body said: “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. 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.”