🔗 Share this article Seattle's Pride Celebrations to Proceed for World Cup In Spite of Objections from Egypt and Iran Arrangements to hold LGBTQ+ rights events and activities in Seattle during the upcoming World Cup are proceeding as scheduled, despite the Egyptian and Iranian soccer associations raised strong concerns regarding a scheduled “Pride Match.” Stadium Policy Alongside External Festivities Local organizers have confirmed they are “proceeding as planned” with Pride activities outside the stadium. This coincides with the Group G match featuring Iran and Egypt on 26 June. Additionally, FIFA has a policy allowing Pride flags inside the stadium. “In our role as hosts, SeattleFWC26’s primary task is to prepare our city to welcome visitors for the matches and oversee the fan activities outside of Seattle Stadium,” said a committee representative. Legal Context Behind the Objections Homosexuality is illegal under Iranian law, and in Egypt, morality laws are often used to target and prosecute individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. The Egyptian federation declared it did not want to be linked to celebrations that “directly contradict the social, religious and cultural values … in Islamic and Arab societies.” Similarly, Iran’s football federation publicly registered “objections against the issue.” FIFA's Stance Regarding Flags and Banners Fifa maintains full authority over match venues on matchdays. While it prohibits banners and flags with overtly political content, it allows flags expressing “sporting and social symbols,” which explicitly includes the Pride flag. This regulation was applied at the most recent World Cup in Qatar and was reinforced following reports of authorities confiscating flags. The Pride Match was an idea created to showcase the city's longstanding tradition of championing equality. An artistic competition has been commissioned to produce artwork celebrating the occasion. Organizers have pledged to making sure every visitor feel welcome in the city during the tournament. The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s most prominent communities of Iranian descent, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and diverse populations representing all nations. “Our commitment is to ensuring all residents and visitors encounter the warmth, respect and dignity that defines our part of the country,” the statement added.