FIFA confirms rainbow flags allowed at 'Pride Match' as US considers 2038 World Cup bid

FIFA has confirmed that rainbow flags will be permitted inside stadiums during the ongoing 2026 World Cup, including a match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle which local organizers have designated a "Pride Match." This decision comes as the game coincides with Seattle's annual Pride Week. However, both the Egyptian and Iranian football federations have lodged objections to the Pride-themed events and requested that LGBTQ+ symbols be restricted, citing cultural and religious values where homosexuality is criminalized. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has clarified that FIFA itself is not branding any match as a "Pride Match," he affirmed that "general statements of human rights," including rainbow flags, are allowed under the tournament's code of conduct.

Concurrently, the United States is exploring a potential bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, indicated that while it is premature to commit, the US possesses the necessary infrastructure and capacity, especially considering a potential expansion of the tournament to 64 teams. This consideration aligns with FIFA's confederation rotation policy, which suggests North America or Oceania would be eligible to host in 2038 following the 2030 and 2034 tournaments in other regions. No formal bidding process has commenced for the 2038 event, with a host selection not expected until 2031 or 2032.