Khaberni - The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" revealed that the American city of Seattle intends to organize events during the World Cup 2026 match between the teams of Egypt and Iran as part of the "Global Pride Week" celebrations.
The newspaper stated that the decision to organize these events was made before knowing the identities of the teams that would be playing at that specific time.
It mentioned that Lumen Field in Seattle, which will host six matches in the tournament, will witness the group stage match between Egypt and Iran, coinciding with a day within the city's annual Pride Week.
According to "Haaretz", the local organizing committee described the match as "the first Pride match in World Cup history," a move that was welcomed by the elected mayor of Seattle, Katie Wilson.
The plan includes organizing events and promotional initiatives to support businesses owned by individuals from the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle, in an attempt to link the global sporting event with the values of diversity, inclusion, and equality.
However, the newspaper clarified that this step comes despite the stance of the host countries — Egypt and Iran — on homosexuality, as the countries are among the most stringent globally in this regard. In Egypt, homosexual relations are punished with imprisonment, while in Iran, the penalty may include execution.
Haaretz" confirmed that it is unlikely that the governments' positions on this issue will change before the start of the tournament, making Seattle's initiative a "preliminary test" for how Western organizing bodies will handle cultural and political contradictions arising from the participation of countries with legal and social systems that starkly contrast with the values promoted by the host cities in the context of global sporting events.
Sources within the Egyptian Football Association commented on reports about the local organizing committee's plans for the 2026 World Cup to organize a celebration in support of the LGBTQ+ community on the sidelines of the Egypt vs Iran match.
Egyptian media quoted sources within the Football Association stating that the association "does not accept being implicated or involving players of the Egyptian national team in any celebration activities that support LGBTQ+," during the World Cup 2026 matches.
The sources added that if there is insistence on organizing any event in support of the LGBTQ+ before the Egypt vs Iran match at the World Cup, "there might be a rejecting reaction to it in the stadium from the side of the Egyptian team players."
The final draw for the World Cup 2026 was held on December 3, placing Egypt in Group 7 along with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand.
In a development that is considered a shocking surprise for football fans, the local organizing committee for the 2026 World Cup in Seattle announced the allocation of the Egypt vs Iran match as a "Dignity Match" celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
