Iran objects to ‘Pride Match’ branding of World Cup soccer game against Egypt

Iran’s soccer chief expressed Tehran’s objections to the ‘irrational’ branding of the upcoming World Cup match against Egypt. The host city of Seattle had proposed dedicating the match in June 2026 to support the LGBTQ community, a move that was criticized by both Iranian and Egyptian officials. The organizing committee in Seattle planned to hold a ‘Pride Match’ coinciding with the city’s Pride Weekend, a decision that sparked controversy. Despite the announced intentions, Iran and Egypt are now set to face each other in Seattle on June 26, just before the city’s Pride Weekend festivities. Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s Football Federation, criticized the branding as an ‘irrational move that supports a certain group.’