The Iranian Football Federation reacted strongly to the decision to dedicate the Iran-Egypt match on June 26, 2026 to the LGBTQ+ community, an initiative presented as a “pride match” and announced even before the draw, according to several media. Planned for Seattle, a city known for its strong LGBTQ+ community, this designation has been described as“irrational” by the president of the Iranian Federation, Mehdi Taj, who affirms that both Iran and Egypt are opposed to it. Iranian state television also indicated that the country intends to officially contest this initiative with FIFA.
This controversy comes a few months before the 2026 World Cup, which is already sensitive for Iran, which had threatened to boycott the draw after the refusal of American visas to certain members of its delegation. In a context where relationships between people of the same sex are severely repressed in Iran and regularly targeted in Egypt, this symbolic designation rekindles tensions around competition. Placed in Group G, Iran will face Egypt, Belgium and New Zealand in this tournament co-organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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