Iran captain Mehdi Taremi spoke of respect for LGBT people after his team's 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle's Pride Match during the World Cup. 'We respect all of the LGBT people,' Taremi told reporters. 'That’s their own idea. It’s not about us. We are here to play football.'
The match, scheduled to coincide with Seattle’s annual Pride celebration, drew pushback from both Iran and Egypt, which complained to FIFA in December. Both countries requested the cancellation of Pride-related activities, citing their cultural and religious values. FIFA president Gianni Infantino later clarified that the event was organized by local authorities, not FIFA, and would not interfere with the match itself.
Despite assurances, Pride celebrations were low-key, with no explicit references to LGBTQ+ themes during pre-match festivities. Outside the stadium, protests against the Iranian regime clashed with Pride supporters, with some waving pre-revolutionary Iranian flags and others displaying rainbow flags. Iran’s federation reiterated its stance, stating that no Pride-related activities would occur inside the stadium or as part of the official program.
Both Iran and Egypt have repressive LGBTQ+ rights records. Same-sex relations are illegal in Iran, where executions have occurred on sodomy charges, while Egypt has prosecuted LGBTQ+ individuals and suppressed public displays of Pride.