SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Egypt and Iran are two of the most repressive places in the world for gays and lesbians. But by sheer coincidence they will square off in a 鈥淧ride Match鈥� in Seattle coinciding with the city’s annual celebration of the .
It has , with both countries asking for the celebrations to be canceled.
Iran, where same-sex relations are illegal and on sodomy charges, had separately asked that its games be moved out of the United States because of , a request denied by FIFA.
Egypt has on the basis of vague indecency laws, and has cracked down on any outward expressions of Pride, especially . Those will be out in abundance during the June 26 match and the typically boisterous parades just outside the stadium.
Activists are optimistic
Both countries complained to FIFA in December. Egypt鈥檚 football association said it 鈥渃ategorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match.鈥� FIFA, whose authority is limited to the stadiums themselves, appears to have brushed off their protests.
Leaders in the LGBTQ+ community are hopeful that the match will contribute to positive change.
State Senator Jamie Pedersen, one of several openly gay members of the Washington State Legislature, said it’s 鈥渉ighly appropriate鈥� that the match will feature countries where LGBTQ+ people are unwelcome, and will convey 鈥減ositive images of folks from the community.鈥�
鈥淚f you tried to import a pride celebration into Egypt or Iran, obviously that could be a disaster,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut in a community like Seattle that prides itself on welcoming people from all over, I just can鈥檛 imagine that it鈥檚 going to be a significant problem.鈥�
FIFA is no stranger to the issue
It’s not the first time that organizers of the world’s biggest sporting event have had to navigate sensitivities over the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Gulf nation of Qatar, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has vague laws criminalizing 鈥渋mmoral actions,鈥� including sodomy. It said all were welcome at the tournament, , while asking visitors to respect the country’s conservative culture.
After reports that some Wales fans from bringing rainbow bucket hats and flags into a stadium, the Welsh football association said it had been informed by FIFA that they would be allowed at a game against Iran, which had asked that Pride flags be banned.
FIFA treats the rainbow flag as a statement of human rights and will allow fans to wave them inside the Seattle stadium, according to Hana Tadesse, a spokesperson for Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026.
A 鈥榤essage鈥� to Iran and Egypt
Seattle Pride, the nonprofit that organizes the city鈥檚 annual parade, is encouraging people to celebrate however they choose.
The proximity of the World Cup events offers visitors the opportunity 鈥渢o experience Pride in Seattle and the values that define our community 鈥� visibility, resilience, and joy,鈥� it said in a statement.
Andrew Ashiofu, a member of the Seattle LGBTQ+ Commission, said the flag would be a 鈥渕essage鈥� to Iran and Egypt, that 鈥渨e are a free city, we are a welcoming city who celebrates everyone, every race, every sexual orientation, every gender identity.鈥�
Local authorities say they are determined to deliver a safe and secure tournament, and have not identified any specific security issues.
Pedersen said LGBTQ+ fans will be able to safely celebrate their identity on an international stage.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how many people are going to be watching from Iran and Egypt,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e probably going to be exposed to some images of happy LGBTQ people celebrating their holiday. And (that鈥檚) great from my perspective. That鈥檚 the whole point of pride.鈥�
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