Tensions have flared ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle, as the Egypt-Iran group stage match is set to coincide with a nearby LGBTQ+ Pride celebration. Both Middle Eastern nations, known for strict anti-LBGTQ+ laws, have strongly objected to the planned festival, raising concerns about the clash of cultures during the high-profile match.

Iran and Egypt Object to Pride Fest During World Cup

The 2026 World Cup draw, finalized in Washington, DC, placed Egypt and Iran in Group G alongside Belgium and New Zealand. Their final group match is scheduled for June 27 at Seattle’s Lumen Field. Upon learning that PrideFest activities were planned nearby on the same day, both football federations expressed serious concerns.

Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj stated,

“π‘¬π’ˆπ’šπ’‘π’• 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’˜π’† 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 π’‚π’π’š 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 π’Šπ’ 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 π’”π’‘π’†π’„π’Šπ’‡π’Šπ’„ π’ˆπ’“π’π’–π’‘ π’Šπ’” 𝒖𝒏𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’Šπ’π’π’†π’ˆπ’‚π’. 𝑢𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆, π’˜π’† 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 π’„π’π’Žπ’Žπ’–π’π’Šπ’„π’‚π’•π’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’Žπ’‚π’•π’•π’†π’“.”

Similarly, Egypt Soccer Federation head Ado Rida said,

“𝑾𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 π’‚π’„π’•π’Šπ’—π’Šπ’•π’Šπ’†π’”, π’˜π’‰π’Šπ’„π’‰ π’…π’Šπ’“π’†π’„π’•π’π’š π’„π’π’π’•π’“π’‚π’…π’Šπ’„π’• 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, π’“π’†π’π’Šπ’ˆπ’Šπ’π’, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’”π’π’„π’Šπ’‚π’ 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔. π‘¬π’”π’‘π’†π’„π’Šπ’‚π’π’π’š π’Šπ’ 𝑨𝒓𝒂𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π‘°π’”π’π’‚π’Žπ’Šπ’„ π’”π’π’„π’Šπ’†π’•π’Šπ’†π’”.”

Seattle Organizers Adjust PrideFest Plans

Seattle PrideFest, celebrated annually since 2007, was initially planned around June 26-28 to coincide with Pride Week and the anniversary of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Following objections from Egypt and Iran, the organizers confirmed that all celebrations will now be held outside Lumen Field.

Hana Tadesse, vice president of communications for Seattle PrideFest, clarified,

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑭𝑾π‘ͺ26 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 π’˜π’Šπ’π’ 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒅 π’π’–π’•π’”π’Šπ’…π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’•π’‚π’…π’Šπ’–π’Ž, 𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅, π’•π’‰π’“π’π’–π’ˆπ’‰π’π’–π’• π‘·π’“π’Šπ’…π’† π‘Ύπ’†π’†π’Œ. 𝑭𝑰𝑭𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’‚π’„π’•π’Šπ’—π’Šπ’•π’Šπ’†π’” π’Šπ’π’”π’Šπ’…π’† 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’”π’•π’‚π’…π’Šπ’–π’Ž, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 π’˜π’† π’˜π’Šπ’π’ 𝒏𝒐𝒕 π’Šπ’π’•π’†π’“π’‡π’†π’“π’† π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ π’‚π’π’šπ’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.”

Lumen Field, which can host 72,000 fans, will now see the World Cup match proceed without any Pride-related events inside, alleviating the concerns of the two nations while keeping the celebrations nearby for the local community.

Also Read: Bangladesh Drops Eight Spots in FIFA Rankings After Costly Losing Streak

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here