Controversy Before the Egypt-Iran Match Due to Activities Supporting Homosexuality

The organizing committee for the 2026 World Cup in Seattle, USA, insisted on holding events and activities supporting LGBTQ+ rights at the anticipated match between the national teams of Egypt and Iran as part of the tournament, despite official objections from the Egyptian and Iranian federations.

According to media reports, both federations expressed reservations about organizing these activities around the events related to the match, considering that it does not align with the prevailing cultural and social values in both countries.

The organizers in Seattle have affirmed their commitment to locally adopted diversity and inclusion policies, noting that the events are part of a broader community program held during the city's hosting of World Cup matches and are not associated with any specific team.

This issue is expected to spark further controversy in the days leading up to the confrontation between Egypt and Iran, given the clear differences between the positions of some participating countries and the policies adopted in the American cities hosting the tournament.