Iran’s Objection to ‘Pride Match’ Label for Egypt Game at World Cup 2026

Iran’s football chief has raised objections to the ‘irrational’ branding of their World Cup 2026 match against Egypt. Local organisers in the United States had referred to the game as an LGBTQ ‘Pride Match’, which sparked controversy. The organising committee in Seattle, where the match is set to take place in late June next year, had initially announced plans to hold the ‘Pride Match’ during the city’s Pride Weekend. Egypt and Iran, after being drawn to face each other on June 26, expressed disapproval of the labelling. Iranian Football Federation head Mehdi Taj criticized the move, referring to it as support for a specific group without mentioning the specifics.