The rainbow flags will fly inside Seattle Stadium regardless. Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei made that clear on Friday, refusing to engage with what he called “things that do not exist” as his team prepare to face Egypt in a World Cup group match that local organisers have designated a Pride Match.
“We are here to play football, not for other things,” Ghalenoei said at a news conference. “As for things that are forbidden in our religion and do not exist, we do not want to talk about them. We only talk about the match, football and the beauty of the game.”
“Iran's coach refuses to discuss pride as Seattle hosts Egypt in a World Cup Pride Match despite complaints.”
The game falls on the Friday before Pride Weekend, a celebration of diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Drag performances and Pride watch parties are planned across Seattle while rainbow flags – a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, diversity, and social inclusion – will fly inside the stadium. Both Iran and Egypt complained about the designation, countries where homosexuality is illegal, but the event will still take place.
Across the street from the stadium, Seattle host committee officials insisted the timing was not designed to provoke. Pride Weekend had been planned before the draw paired Egypt and Iran, they told the BBC, adding that the answer to discomfort is curiosity rather than retreat.
“We’re thrilled,” Hedda McLendon, from Seattle’s World Cup organising committee, told the BBC after the city’s Pride Match Day press briefing. “It might not be how you want to live or how things are in your country, but this is something that makes us unique and we want you to experience it and be curious.”
McLendon and other officials repeatedly said it did not matter who was playing – that the match was scheduled before the teams were announced and they would celebrate the beauty of football and gay pride regardless.
“The match is about Seattle, not Egypt or Iran,” said Wales football legend Jess Fishlock, who now lives in and plays for Seattle Reign FC and is part of the host committee. “Regardless of who is playing, we would be the same. It’s such an important part of Seattle’s identity and culture.”
Fifa, football’s governing body, said rainbow flags will be allowed inside the stadium – but added that this is not a Fifa Pride Match, simply another World Cup game taking place in a city marking Pride Weekend.
“The Fifa World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events,” Fifa said.
The match kicks off at 04:00 BST on Saturday. Both teams say they are purely focused on football, with both coaches avoiding questions about gay pride at their news conferences. But in Seattle, the celebration will go ahead – flags and all.