A 2026 World Cup fixture designated by organisers as an LGBTQ+ 'Pride Match' will feature two countries where homosexuality is illegal.

Axar.az informs, citing BBC, the local organising committee in Seattle, one of the host cities for the Fifa tournament next summer, have said the match at the city's Lumen Field on 26 June will feature celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community.

The plans were put in place before the teams involved in the fixture were selected or the draw for the 2026 World Cup was made.

And following Friday's draw and Saturday's fixture allocation, it has been confirmed that the game on 26 June in Seattle will be the Group G match between Egypt and Iran.

In Iran, the maximum punishment for homosexual relations is the death penalty, while in Egypt, morality laws are frequently used to suppress LGBTQ+ rights and relationships.

This move sparked a wave of reactions among the public and especially within the Iranian and Egyptian football federations.

The two federations, representing Muslim-majority countries, sent an official message to FIFA declaring that they would not accept any of the special protocols associated with this designation. Their objections include the use of rainbow captain’s armbands and other LGBTQ-related symbols during the match.

Given the shared stance of Iran and Egypt, FIFA is expected to intervene to prevent tensions and ensure the match proceeds under normal conditions.

The issue has now become one of the sensitive cases of the 2026 World Cup, with attention focused on FIFA’s final decision.