FIFA will allow rainbow flags inside Lumen Field in Seattle when Iran play Egypt in their World Cup match on Friday night, June 26 – as long as fans follow the “Stadium Code of Conduct.”
A statement issued by a FIFA spokesperson read in part, “General human rights statements, including rainbow flags and other flags representing gender and gender identity, are permitted under the FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadium Code of Conduct and may be displayed inside stadiums as long as they are used in a manner that complies with the code.”
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The eight-page code is a general guide to fan behavior that doesn’t include anything about rainbow flags. They will be more than a few at the game that coincides with the start of Seattle Pride Weekend.
The so-called “Pride Match” brings together teams from two countries that treat same-sex behavior as illegal.
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans cheer before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans cheer before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A fan wears United States themed shoes and socks outside the stadium before the game.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan wears face paint outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan wears an eagle mask outside the stadium before the game.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans outside the stadium before the game.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans enjoy the atmosphere before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans cheer before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans cheer before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans cheer before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Turkey and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
Fans take a photo before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
Fans take a photo before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
Fans take a photo before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
Fans take a photo before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
Fans take a photo before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles.
(Harry How, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans are seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between TŸrkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan stands outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans outside the stadium before the game.
(Jessie Alcheh, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
A United States fan stands with a flag outside the stadium before the game.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans stand outside the stadium before the game.
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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The fans bring the red white and green energy to the World Cup match against Turkey
United States fans stand with a flag outside the stadium before the game.
(Kiyoshi Mio, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
“What that message means is that there is nothing written (on the flags) that can be racist,” a FIFA spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports, adding that it will not be allowed to write, “I hate Arabs,’ or Americans, or Canadians.”
“There is nothing unusual here or sensationalist.”
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The code applies to all flags, the spokesman said, noting that FIFA has always approved rainbow flags – including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“They were allowed in Qatar. There were some security guards who didn’t let them in,” said a FIFA spokesperson. “But our stance on the rainbow flags has always been unanimous that we allow them…as long as there is no discrimination.”
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: FIFA allows rainbow flags at Iraq-Egypt match – if ‘Stadium Code’ is followed.
