FIFA has rejected calls from Iran and Egypt to ban rainbow flags at their World Cup match in Seattle on Friday, despite both countries objecting to local Pride-themed celebrations linked to the fixture. FIFA says LGBTQ+ flags are permitted at all World Cup games under its Code of Conduct, despite different rules in Qatar’s 2022 tournament. While FIFA has distanced itself from the city’s events, it has made clear rainbow flags will be allowed for the games.
Rainbow flags will be allowed into the stadium, FIFA says, when Iran face Egypt in the controversial “Pride Match” in Seattle.
The match, scheduled during Seattle’s annual Pride weekend, has been promoted by the city’s local organizing committee as a Pride-themed event. Though the committee operates independently of FIFA, the plans have sparked discomfort in predominantly-Muslim nations Iran and Egypt, where same-sex relations are criminalized.
Both Iran and Egypt’s football federations had lobbied FIFA to prevent any association between the match and LGBTQ+ celebrations, including the display of rainbow flags inside the stadium.
Egypt said it opposed “any activity related to supporting homosexuality,” arguing such displays conflict with regional cultural values and FIFA’s tradition of providing a neutral sporting environment. Iran echoed those concerns, saying that the views of both federations reflect the cultural and religious values shared by their populations.
FIFA, however, said rainbow and other LGBTQ+ flags are permitted at all World Cup matches under its Code of Conduct. The governing body described the tournament as an “inclusive” event and confirmed it would not restrict supporters from bringing such flags into stadiums.
At the same time, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sought to distance the organization from the Seattle celebrations. In an interview to a Swiss media Weltwoche earlier this year, Infantino rejected the characterization of the fixture as a “Pride Match,” saying it is simply a World Cup game taking place on the same day as events organized by external groups in the city.
Critics however, have pointed out that during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the governing body had threatened yellow cards against captains who planned to wear the “OneLove” armband in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion, citing rules against political messaging.
This time, while FIFA has emphasized that Seattle’s Pride events are locally organized and not part of the tournament itself, it has made clear that rainbow flags will be allowed inside the stadium despite objections from participating teams.
Vedika Bahl explains in Truth or Fake.
