"Egypt and Iran are calling on football's governing body to intervene in the LGBTQ+ Pride celebration planned to coincide with their group stage match in Seattle at the 2026 World Cup. Egypt's Football Association (EFA) said on Tuesday it had sent a letter to Fifa urging them to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during the national team's match against Iran next June."
"The fixture on 26 June has been designated by local organisers as a Pride Match to coincide with Seattle's Pride weekend. The two nations involved in the match Egypt and Iran impose severe penalties on LGBTQ+ people. Reports said the plans, which include LGBTQ+ celebrations and artwork displays around the stadium and across Seattle, were drawn up before the tournament draw confirmed the Group G fixture."
Egypt and Iran have asked FIFA to prevent LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during their group stage match in Seattle on 26 June 2026. The Egyptian Football Association sent a letter to FIFA's secretary general, Mattias Grafstrom, arguing such events would clash with the cultural, religious and social values of participating nations. Local organisers designated the fixture as a Pride Match coinciding with Seattle's Pride weekend, with planned celebrations and artwork around the stadium and city. The EFA warned those activities could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities among fans and cited FIFA statutes, including article 4 on neutrality, to demand a sport-only atmosphere.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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