Seattle Pride Match member urges FIFA to allow LGBTQ+ celebrations
A member of the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee has called on FIFA to approve planned LGBTQ+ celebrations during the World Cup fixture between Egypt and Iran, turning the governing body’s own Qatar 2022 messaging back upon itself, reports BritPanorama.
Eric Wahl highlighted the rhetoric from four years ago that instructed visitors to respect local customs during the tournament in the Gulf state. The match, set to take place at Lumen Field on 26 June, coincides with Seattle Pride weekend and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
“In Qatar they said we had to respect the culture,” Wahl stated, noting that FIFA had made no contact regarding the festivities. He added, “I know Egypt are petitioning FIFA, but it raises ethical issues.”
The Egyptian Football Association has lodged a formal objection to FIFA, sending correspondence to secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom. Their statement rejected “in absolute terms” any activities related to LGBTQ+ support during the match, arguing that such initiatives conflict with “the cultural, religious and social values” of both Egypt and Iran. The association also cited FIFA’s statutes concerning political and social neutrality, claiming that matches should not serve as platforms for contentious causes.
Egyptian officials have urged FIFA to ensure that the encounter remains focused solely on football. Iranian media have echoed these criticisms of the proposed Pride Match. Both countries have strict laws against LGBTQ+ rights, with Iran imposing severe penalties, including the death penalty for homosexual relations.
Wahl, however, indicated that preparations for LGBTQ+ celebrations are moving forward despite these objections. He acknowledged that while organisers might not be directly involved with activities inside the stadium, the presence of Pride flags would be typical for Seattle. “It is a very Seattle thing to have Pride flags inside the ground,” he remarked, inviting members of the Egyptian and Iranian football delegations to partake in local parades and events.
The Pride Match will showcase artwork from a poster competition across Seattle and feature a trail highlighting LGBTQ+ history for visitors to explore during Pride Month. Wahl expressed that the fixture carries significant personal meaning for him, given the recent passing of his brother Grant, an American sports journalist who died while covering the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Grant had been briefly detained by Qatari authorities for attempting to enter a stadium wearing a rainbow shirt in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Reflecting on his brother’s legacy, Wahl noted, “I told Grant not to poke the bear, but Grant was Grant. He loved soccer, but not with blinkers on.” For him, this match represents a chance to extend solidarity to LGBTQ+ communities in both competing nations: “It would mean a great deal to me to know that a football fan in Iran… and Egypt… sees this. That welcome can be revolutionary.”
