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Iran and Egypt reluctantly play 'Pride Match' in Seattle
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Iran and Egypt reluctantly play 'Pride Match' in Seattle

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Iran and Egypt will play a World Cup match designated as a "Pride Match" in Seattle, a city known for its LGBTQ+ friendliness.
  • Both nations, where LGBTQ+ individuals face severe penalties, have expressed reluctance and complained to FIFA about the designation.
  • FIFA has allowed pride flags in the stadium, while team officials are attempting to steer conversations away from the match's Pride designation and focus solely on football.

Iran and Egypt are set to play in what has been dubbed the World Cup's "Pride Match" in Seattle, a city actively celebrating its annual Pride events. The designation, coinciding with Seattle's Pride festivities, has put both nations in an uncomfortable position, as LGBTQ+ rights are severely restricted in both countries.

It will be a World Cup match in Seattle, and on the same day events organized by external organizations will take place in the city. But it has nothing to do with the match itself.

— Gianni InfantinoFIFA President Gianni Infantino downplaying the connection between the World Cup match and Seattle's Pride events.

Homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran, and Egypt has a history of prosecuting individuals in same-sex relationships. Both football federations have lodged complaints with FIFA, requesting the cancellation of LGBTQ+ events associated with the match. FIFA, however, has upheld its stance on human rights, permitting pride flags in the stadium.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has attempted to distance the match itself from the Pride events, stating they are organized by external groups and unrelated to the game. During press conferences, coaches from both Iran and Egypt deflected questions about the "Pride Match," emphasizing their sole focus on the football competition.

The match will be exciting, arduous, and our focus must be on football and nothing else ... We will only talk about football.

— Amir GhalenoeiIran's head coach emphasizing his team's focus on the game.

Amir Ghalenoei, Iran's head coach, stated, "The match will be exciting, arduous, and our focus must be on football and nothing else." Egypt's coach, Hossam Hassan, echoed this sentiment, adding, "We are all focused on football, it's all we think about and FIFA is of course taking care of the organization around it."

We are all focused on football, it's all we think about and FIFA is of course taking care of the organization around it.

— Hossam HassanEgypt's head coach aligning with the focus on football.

Organizers of Seattle Pride remain committed to their celebrations, with Hedda McLendon of the local organizing committee telling Reuters that Pride has been celebrated in the city for over 50 years, regardless of the World Cup's duration. Both teams have had mixed results so far in the tournament.

The World Cup comes and goes in three weeks. Pride celebrations have taken place this weekend for over 50 years.

— Hedda McLendonA Seattle Pride organizer highlighting the long-standing nature of Pride celebrations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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