The match in Seattle is scheduled to kick off at 4am UK time on Saturday June 27th and has been dubbed the ‘Pride Match’ by the city’s local organizing committee.
Group G matches will be played as a “pride match” before the December draw to select two Muslim-majority countries where homosexuality is a crime.
Egypt and Iran both oppose it.
The Egyptian Football Association said such events clash with cultural and religious values, while the Iranian Football Federation reportedly said that “propaganda activities” related to the movement should not take place inside stadiums.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Asexual Association (ILGA) monitors laws related to homosexuality around the world.
The BBC reported in 2023 that the death penalty is the legal punishment for same-sex sexual activity in Iran.
“The 2026 FIFA World Cup is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to our matches and events,” FIFA said in a statement on Thursday.
“General human rights statements, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation or gender identity, are permitted under the 2026 FIFA World Cup Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums.”
However, soccer’s governing body stressed that the Pride event is being organized by Seattle’s local World Cup committee, not FIFA.
“We must make it clear that there will be no ‘pride matches’ at the World Cup,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Swiss magazine Die Wertosche in January.
“There will be a FIFA World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day there will be an event hosted by an outside organization in the city.
“But that has nothing to do with the match itself.”
FIFA’s decision to allow rainbow flags to be displayed inside stadiums comes four years after it threatened to give a captain a yellow card for wearing a “One Love” armband at the 2022 Qatar World Cup due to rules against political slogans.
