12/12/2025
Egypt just formally demanded that FIFA cancel the Pride celebrations around their World Cup match against Iran - and Seattle says they're doing it anyway.
Remember that spectacularly awkward situation where organizers scheduled a Pride Match before knowing which teams would play, and it ended up being two countries where being gay is illegal? Well, Egypt is not having it.
The Egyptian Football Association sent an official letter to FIFA "categorically rejecting" any LGBTQ+ activities during the June 26 game, claiming it violates their "cultural, religious and social values." Iran's football federation is also objecting, calling it an "irrational move that supports a certain group."
Here's where it gets messy - Seattle's organizing committee just told the BBC they're "moving forward as planned" with their Pride programming. But there's a crucial distinction: their celebrations are happening around the city, not inside the stadium during the actual match.
So Egypt and Iran are essentially objecting to rainbow flags and Pride events happening in Seattle itself, not just at the game.
The timing makes this even more loaded. The match falls two days before the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which sparked the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Seattle is home to one of America's largest Iranian-American communities and a significant Egyptian diaspora - many of whom are likely LGBTQ+ people who fled persecution in those exact countries.