🔗 Share this article The City of Seattle's LGBTQ+ Pride Will Go Ahead for World Cup In Spite of Objections from Egypt and Iran Arrangements to hold Pride-focused events and activities in Seattle amid next summer’s World Cup will continue unabated, even after Iranian and Egyptian soccer associations raised strong concerns about a scheduled “Pride Match.” Venue Regulations and City Celebrations Seattle's planning committee stated clearly they are “proceeding as planned” with celebratory programming outside the stadium. This coincides with the tournament group fixture featuring Iran and Egypt on June 26th. Additionally, the tournament's governing body has a policy allowing rainbow flags to be brought into the match venue. “As the local organising committee, our primary task is to get the city ready to host the matches and manage the fan activities beyond the match venue,” stated a committee representative. Legal Context of Objections Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, while in Egypt, morality laws are frequently employed to target and prosecute LGBTQ+ people. Egypt's football association stated it refused to be associated with celebrations that “fundamentally oppose the social, religious and cultural values … in Arab and Islamic societies.” In a parallel move, Iran’s football federation publicly registered “its opposition against the issue.” FIFA's Stance Regarding Flags and Banners The international federation holds full authority of stadiums during games. Although its rules forbid political signage with overtly political content, it allows flags expressing “sporting and social symbols,” a category which includes the Pride flag. This regulation was applied at the previous tournament in Qatar and was reinforced following reports of flags being seized. The Pride Match was an idea created to highlight Seattle’s longstanding tradition of advocating for inclusion and equality. A design contest is underway to produce artwork celebrating the occasion. Planners are committed to making sure all fans feel welcome in the city during the 48-team competition. The region hosts one of the nation’s most prominent Iranian-American communities, a vibrant Egyptian expatriate community, and diverse populations representing all nations. “We’re committed is to guaranteeing everyone experience the hospitality, dignity, and respect that characterizes our part of the country,” organizers added.