The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has formally requested FIFA to halt planned LGBTQ+ “Pride Match” celebrations during their 2026 World Cup fixture against Iran in Seattle.

The match, scheduled for June 26 at Lumen Field, was designated by the Seattle local organising committee as a “Pride Match” to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, coinciding with Seattle Pride weekend and near the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the EFA has communicated its strong objection to FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom. The association “rejects in absolute terms” any activities promoting LGBTQ+ support during the game, citing potential clashes with the “cultural, religious and social values” of both Egypt and Iran.

The EFA further argued that such celebrations would contravene FIFA’s statutes regarding political and social neutrality, asserting that matches should remain focused solely on the sporting aspect. “It is necessary to avoid including activities that could provoke cultural and religious sensitivities,” the statement read.

The head of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, reportedly echoed these concerns, describing the Pride Match initiative as an “irrational move that supports a certain group,” as quoted by Iranian news agency ISNA. However, the BBC reports that Iran has not officially appealed to FIFA over the matter.

Despite the objections, Eric Wahl, a member of the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee (PMAC), maintains the event will proceed as planned. “The Egypt v Iran match in Seattle in June just happens to be the Pride match, and I think that is a good thing, actually,” Wahl posted on social media. “There are LGBTQAI+ people everywhere. All are welcome to be themselves in Seattle.”

This is not an isolated incident. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA warned players against wearing the OneLove armband in support of LGBTQ+ rights, threatening yellow cards for non-compliance. Previous calls for tolerance from officials, like the one from former UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, asking LGBTQ+ fans to show “flex and compromise,” were widely criticised as insensitive.

FIFA and the Seattle organising committee have been contacted by BBC Sport for comment. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between promoting inclusivity and respecting diverse cultural norms within the global football community.

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