Seattle World Cup match allows rainbow flags despite offside dispute

On June 25‑26, 2026, Egypt and Iran met in a Group G World Cup match at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. FIFA confirmed that rainbow flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity would be permitted in the stadium, despite formal objections from the Egyptian and Iranian football federations. The organization cited its stadium code of conduct, which allows such symbols provided they comply with the rules.

During the match, Iran’s potential winning goal was ruled out for offside. Officials determined that Shoja Khalilzadeh was offside because goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had moved far enough forward to no longer count as one of the last two defenders, a position that the current offside law treats as a defender. The decision eliminated Iran’s chance to advance to the knockout stage.