(NewsNation) — The 2026 FIFA World Cup “Pride Match” will feature two countries where homosexuality is criminalized: Egypt and Iran. Now, officials for both countries are expressing dissatisfaction with the match’s branding.
After the draw and allocation for the 2026 World Cup in North America over the weekend, organizers confirmed June 26 will feature a Group G matchup between Egypt and Iran.
The local organizing committee in Seattle, one of the host cities for the upcoming tournament, previously designated the game as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community before the countries competing in the tournament were announced.
The match, which coincides with Pride Month in the U.S., isn’t directly “affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA,” according to its website.
Iran and Egypt voice displeasure
The head of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, was quoted by local news agency ISNA as saying both countries have raised “objections against the issue,” which he labelled an “irrational move that supports a certain group,” as reported by the BBC.
In a statement Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Association said it has sent a letter to FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström, stating the country “categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran” citing contradictions to “the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.”
In Iran, homosexual conduct can be punishable by death, while in Egypt, the country’s morality laws are often used to suppress LGBTQ+ rights, leading to arrests and prosecution, according to Human Rights Watch.