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Rabat – Egypt’s national team coach Hossam Hassan addressed the controversy surrounding Pride Month activities planned around Egypt’s upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 showdown against Iran in Seattle, insisting his side remains focused solely on football.
“The pride activities during the match? We focus on football and respect all slogans… the slogan of respect, sportsmanship, and any slogan promoted by FIFA,” Hassan said during a press conference ahead of the highly anticipated fixture.
The Egypt-Iran encounter, scheduled for Saturday, June 27, Moroccan time – Friday, June 26, in the United States – coincides with the city’s annual Pride celebrations, which local organizers confirmed will proceed as planned near the stadium despite objections raised by both the Egyptian and Iranian football federations.
Seattle officials stated that the activities are part of long-standing annual June events organized by the city council and are not specifically tied to the World Cup itself.
The controversy has sparked significant debate online, particularly among fans from the two countries, given the cultural and religious sensitivities surrounding LGBTQ+ issues in Iran and Egypt.
Rather than escalating tensions, Hassan adopted a measured tone, emphasizing respect and sportsmanship while avoiding direct criticism of either FIFA or the Seattle organizers.
The match itself is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the group stage, with both Egypt and Iran battling for a potential place in the knockout rounds of this year’s expanded tournament.
While discussions off the pitch continue to dominate headlines ahead of kickoff, Hassan made clear that Egypt’s priority remains the football itself.
