Iran has announced that it wants to prevent a so-called pride match during the 2026 World Cup in the USA. Association president Mehdi Taj told the Tehran daily newspaper Hammihan,
The Iranian Football Association has “no interest” in the national team’s third World Cup game being played “under the sign of the rainbow colors”. They “absolutely want to prevent this” and will act accordingly.
The affected group game against Egypt is scheduled for June 26, 2026 in Seattle. Taj said the game falls in the Shiite month of mourning Muharram, which takes place in Iran is dedicated to the memory of the third Shiite Imam Hussein. An event under the symbol of the LGBTQI+ movement is unthinkable for Iran under these circumstances.
Religious justification and legal situation in Iran
In Iran, homosexuality and queerness are considered sins under Islamic law and can be punished with harsh penalties, including the death penalty. The Iranian leadership sees the plans of the World Cup organizers in Seattle to focus individual games on the LGBTQI+ community as an insult to Islamic values and religious sacredness.
However, football experts in the country doubt that Iran will actually resort to a boycott of the game. The national team will compete in Group G against Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand and, given the new tournament regulations, is hoping to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in World Cup history.
According to the newspaper Hammihan Taj said he was confident that the football association’s efforts would be successful.
Protests also from Egypt – Seattle is sticking to its plans
The Egyptian Football Association also protested against the planned pride match and wrote to the world association Fifa. In Egypt there are criminal offenses for the “protection of morals or religion”, which are also covered homosexuality can be prosecuted, for example within the framework of laws on prostitution or public morals.
The decision for a Pride match in Seattle had already been made before the specific game schedule was known. The World Cup organizers said they wanted to stick to the plans. Seattle is considered a democratic-liberal city and traditionally celebrates the LGBTQI+ community on the last weekend of June 2026.
