FIFA to allow rainbow flags at Egypt v Iran World Cup clash

Friday's group game falls on Seattle's Pride weekend, a scheduling quirk that emerged only after December's draw pitted the two Muslim-majority countries against each other.

A match celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in conjunction with Seattle’s Pride Weekend celebrations was a perfect moment for inclusivity and football to align.

The decision comes ahead of the Group G fixture which has drawn attention because Seattle's local World Cup host committee has designated the game as a "Pride Match" as part of the city's annual Pride celebrations.

In December, Egypt and Iran were drawn to play each other on that date in Seattle, causing a swift firestorm and condemnation from the two countries.