Egypt and Iran have complained to FIFA over a World Cup match in Seattle that is planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride.

Leaders in the nation's soccer federations publicly rebuked the idea of playing the June 26 match at Seattle Stadium, which local organisers say will include a "once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington".

In Egypt, the soccer federation issued a statement saying it sent a letter to FIFA "categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match".

Seattle PrideFest has been organised in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit which designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw last week.

FIFA chose to allocate the Egypt-Iran game to Seattle instead of Vancouver, where the teams' group rivals Belgium and New Zealand will play at the same time.

In Iran, where gays and lesbians can face the death penalty, the president of Iran's Football Federation Mehdi Taj criticised scheduling the match during an interview aired on state television this week.

Taj said Iran would bring up the issue during a FIFA Council meeting in Qatar next week. The longest-serving member of the 37-person council chaired by FIFA president Gianni Infantino is Egypt's Hany Abo Rida.

"Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point," Taj said. State TV on Tuesday confirmed a complaint would be sent to FIFA.

The Egypt soccer federation, led by Ado Rida, said it "completely rejects such activities, which directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies".

It urged FIFA to stop the celebration to "avoid activities that may trigger cultural and religious sensitivity between the presented spectators of both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially as such activities contradict the cultures and religions of the two countries."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-11/football-egypt-iran-complain-fifa-over-wo...