<p>Two countries that criminalize homosexuality have asked to be left out of a soccer match that is being branded as a celebration of homosexuality.</p>
<p>Egypt and Iran, who are scheduled to play in Seattle on June 26, the same day that Seattle is holding its &#8220;Pride Match,&#8221; said that they want no part of the LGBT celebration. This should come as a shock to no one. While the pride theme was determined before last weekend&#8217;s team draw that put Egypt and Iran on the June 26 slot, backlash was to be expected.</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/world-cup-teams-back-down-on-rainbow-armbands-after-fifa-threats">World Cup Teams Back Down On Rainbow Armbands After FIFA Threats</a></strong></p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.efa.com.eg/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%A5%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AE%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%83%D8%A3%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85/">letter sent to FIFA</a>, the Egyptian Football Association requested that there be no activities glorifying homosexuality during the match with Iran. Egypt references FIFA&#8217;s policies requiring FIFA competitions to avoid anything that brings conflict between fans from different backgrounds.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Egyptian Federation categorically rejects these calls and demands that FIFA not hold any events or performances related to supporting (homosexuality) inside the stadium on match day.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Egyptian Football Association said that it &#8220;rejects such activities&#8221; such as promoting homosexuality during the soccer match that &#8220;directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values ​​in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.&#8221;</p>
<p>Iran made a similar statement.</p>
<p>President of Iran&#8217;s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, spoke to state media and denounced the decision to use pride branding for the match.</p>
<p>&#8220;Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point.&#8221;</p>
<p>Taj said Iran would bring up the issue at a FIFA Council meeting next week in Qatar, another country that will start their quest for the World Cup in Seattle.</p>
<p>Egypt, Iran, and Qatar have laws against homosexuality.</p>
<p>In Egypt, if someone is caught engaging in homosexual activity, it’s punishable with up to three years in prison, and they may be forced to pay a hefty fine, according to Human Rights Watch. In Iran, capital punishment remains the maximum penalty for homosexuality under the law.</p>
<p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/2026-world-cup-to-host-pride-match-featuring-two-countries-that-criminalize-being-gay">2026 World Cup To Host ‘Pride Match’ Featuring Two Countries That Criminalize Being Gay</a></strong></p>
<p>Seattle&#8217;s Pride Match Advisory Committee is organizing the &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; that is still set to go on despite the two countries&#8217; requests during the city&#8217;s Pride weekend. This committee isn&#8217;t associated with FIFA or endorsed by it.</p>
<p>Hana Tedesse, Vice President of Communications for Seattle FIFA World Cup 26™ , which is directly associated with the soccer tournament, told The Daily Wire SeattleFWC26 isn&#8217;t backing down.</p>
<p>&#8220;SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington,&#8221; Tedesse said.</p>
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<p>SeattleFWC26 called inclusion Seattle’s “greatest strength.”</p>
<p>&#8220;As the local organizing committee, our role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,&#8221; Tedesse said. &#8220;Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs. The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle.”</p>
<p>During the 2022 World Cup, FIFA threatened sanctions for European countries that wanted to wear pride-themed LGBT bands — the countries ultimately decided against it.</p>
<p>The &#8220;Pride Match&#8221; is scheduled for June 26 at Seattle&#8217;s Lumen Field. The Daily Wire has reached out to FIFA to comment on Egypt&#8217;s and Iran&#8217;s request to take pride out of play.</p>

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Egypt And Iran Clash With FIFA Over 2026 World Cup ‘Pride Match’