Both Egypt and Iran have filed complaints with the International Federation of Association Football regarding the planned celebration for the LGBTQ+ community coinciding with their match in next summer's World Cup.

Leaders of the football associations in both countries expressed their rejection of holding the match on June 26 at Seattle Stadium, where local organizers view the event as an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities in front of a wider audience in Washington state.

The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it sent an official letter to FIFA rejecting any pro-LGBTQ+ activities during the match.

It is worth noting that the Seattle Pride Festival has been organized since 2007 by a nonprofit organization, and the organizers dedicated the match to the celebration before the World Cup draw took place last week. FIFA decided to hold the Egypt-Iran match in Seattle instead of Vancouver, where their group opponents, Belgium and New Zealand, will play at the same time.

Meanwhile, the head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, considered the timing of the match illogical and clearly indicative of support for a particular group, affirming that Iran will raise the issue during the FIFA Council meeting in Qatar next week.

It is noteworthy that FIFA only controls the stadiums and official fan zones in World Cup host cities and has no authority over community events such as the Seattle Pride Festival.

In a statement to official television, Taj emphasized that Iran and Egypt have objected to the decision, describing it as an unreasonable step that must be officially addressed by FIFA.

As for the Egyptian Football Association, it confirmed its complete rejection of the Pride celebration, considering the associated activities to be completely at odds with the cultural, religious, and social values of the region, especially in Arab and Islamic communities.

Iran had previously threatened to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington due to the refusal to grant visas to five members of its delegation, including Taj, to enter the United States because some were linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, forcing Iran to send a smaller delegation to the draw.