Egypt protests planned pride celebrations for World Cup game vs. Iran

Egypt's Football Association said on Tuesday it had sent a letter to FIFA urging the governing body to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during the national team's World Cup match against Iran in Seattle next June.

The EFA argues in the letter that such events would clash with the cultural and religious values of the nations participating in the match.

The fixture on June 26 has been designated by local organisers as a "Pride Match" to coincide with Seattle's Pride weekend.

The two nations involved in the match - Egypt and Iran - impose severe penalties on LGBTQ+ people.

Reports said the plans, which include LGBTQ+ celebrations and artwork displays around the stadium and across Seattle, were drawn up before the tournament draw confirmed the Group G fixture.

Photos show Trump and celebs gather for 2026 World Cup draw

In its letter to FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, the EFA said it "categorically rejects any activities promoting LGBTQ during the match," warning that such events could "provoke cultural and religious sensitivities among fans."

"These activities directly conflict with the cultural, religious and social values of the region, particularly in Arab and Islamic societies," the EFA wrote.

"While FIFA is committed to ensuring a respectful environment that welcomes all fans, it is essential to avoid activities that could spark tension or misunderstanding between supporters from Egypt and Iran."

"We call on FIFA to guarantee that the match takes place in an atmosphere focused solely on sport and free from displays that contradict the beliefs of the participating nations."

The EFA said its position was based on FIFA's statutes, "specifically Article 4, which emphasizes neutrality in political and social matters during FIFA competitions," and on disciplinary regulations that require tournaments to remain free of "manifestations that could cause tension or conflict among fans."

In Iran, same-sex relations can carry the death penalty, while in Egypt morality laws are often used to prosecute LGBTQ+ people.

The event is organised by the local committee and is not affiliated with FIFA. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by email.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA threatened yellow cards for players wearing the "OneLove" armband in support of LGBTQ+ rights, prompting teams including England and Wales to abandon plans to use it.

Brazil – 23rd appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> United States of America – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mexico – 18th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> England – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Portugal – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> France – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Spain – 17th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Iran – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Switzerland – 13th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Croatia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Australia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Morocco – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Austria – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ecuador – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Senegal – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Korea – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Japan – eighth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Colombia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Netherlands – 12th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Germany – 21st appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Belgium – 15th appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Canada – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Uzbekistan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jordan – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tunisia – seventh appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> South Africa – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ivory Coast – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Scotland – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Algeria – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New Zealand – third appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paraguay – ninth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Egypt – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cape Verde – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Qatar – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Norway – fourth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Panama – second appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Curacao – first appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ghana – fifth appearance

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Haiti – second appearance

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Who qualified for 2026 World Cup? See every country in the field so far

Brazil– 23rd appearance

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Egypt protests pride celebrations for 2026 World Cup game vs. Iran

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Egypt protests planned pride celebrations for World Cup game vs. Iran

Egypt's Football Association said on Tuesday it had sent a letter to FIFA urging the governing body to prevent any LG...

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Reports: 4 LSU assistants returning to Ole Miss for CFP

Four more Ole Miss assistant coaches who followed head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU are returning to coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Joe Cox, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach George McDonald, assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens and senior analyst and inside receivers coach Sawyer Jordan will be in Oxford for No. 6 seed Mississippi's Dec. 20 game against No. 11 Tulane.

It previously was announced that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. also would return to help out new Rebels head coach Pete Golding.

Kiffin took the job in Baton Rouge one day after the Rebels (11-1) defeated rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28.

Kiffin said he wanted to stay on and coach Ole Miss through the postseason but that athletic director Keith Carter denied his request.

The winner between Mississippi and Tulane (11-2) will face No. 3 seed Georgia (12-1) on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

--Field Level Media

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Reports: 4 LSU assistants returning to Ole Miss for CFP

Four more Ole Miss assistant coaches who followed head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU are returning to coach the Rebels in t...

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New York judge orders release of grand jury records in Ghislaine Maxwell investigation

A federal judge in New York on Tuesday granted a Justice Department request to release grand jury material related to Ghislaine Maxwell's case.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said in his ruling that he has taken great care to "put in place a mechanism to protect victims from the inadvertent release of materials within the discovery in this case that would identify them or otherwise invade their privacy."

Engelmayer said the grand jury materials in the case, however, "would not reveal new information of any consequence."

He said the two panels heard only "summary testimony from two law enforcement officials; and, with minor exceptions, the evidence before the grand juries was already a matter of public record, largely as a result of Maxwell's 2021 trial."

Maxwell was convicted of federal sex trafficking charges, including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, participation in a sex-trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking of a minor. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Tuesday's ruling comes days after afederal judge in Floridaalso ordered the release of grand jury investigations into Jeffrey Epstein from 2005 and 2007. Congress passed a law last month ordering the Justice Department to release all of its records related to Epstein.

Another judge has yet to rule in a separate request to unseal grand jury records in New York related to Epstein,the politically connected financierwho died in prison in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

NBC News reached out to Maxwell's attorney for comment.

Last week, Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, said in a filing that Maxwell "does not take a position" on the Justice Department's request to unseal the material but argued that releasing it "would create undue prejudice" and prevent "the possibility of a fair retrial."

The U.S. Supreme Court this yearrejected Maxwell's challengeto her criminal conviction for recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be abused by Epstein, but in a court filing last week, her attorney said she plans to file another petition challenging the conviction.

The Justice Department filed the motion to unseal grand jury transcripts in July afterPresident Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi"to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval."

That directive came after the Justice Department and the FBI said in a joint memo that they had conducted an exhaustive review of the Epstein and Maxwell cases, that no other people would be charged in connection with their trafficking of minors and that no additional material or evidence would be released.

The unsigned memo sparked tremendous public backlash, including from supporters of Trump, because he, Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel had vowed to be more transparent about the probe.

Engelmayerrejected the Justice Department's first requestto unseal the materials in the case in August and suggested the government was being misleading in its stated reasons for making them public.

"Its entire premise — that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them—is demonstrably false,"he wrote.

The materials "do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's. They do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes. They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death. They do not reveal the path of the Government's investigation," Engelmayer wrote then.

"There's no 'there' there," he added.

In the opinion Tuesday, Engelmayer acknowledged that the Epstein and Maxwell victims who have written letters to the court are "largely supportive of the Act's command that DOJ's investigative records" be made public. Still, he said, they voiced concerns that their identities and privacy would be compromised as records were released.

Engelmayer added, "The victims' concerns, regrettably, have a basis in fact." He argued that the Justice Department paid "lip service" to the victims but "has not treated them with the solicitude they deserve," pointing to the Justice Department's filing the motion to unseal grand jury materials in July "without giving notice to Maxwell's and Epstein's victims."

He said he changed his position on the release of the materials because of the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that was passed last month and signed into law by Trump. It requires the Justice Department to make public "all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" relating to Epstein and Maxwell in its possession, which the Justice Department argued would include the grand jury materials.

Engelmayer agreed.

It's unclear when the materials will be released. Engelmayer said the court would require the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York to "personally certify" that material is "rigorously reviewed" before it is released to ensure victims' identities are protected.

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New York judge orders release of grand jury records in Ghislaine Maxwell investigation

A federal judge in New York on Tuesday granted a Justice Department request to release grand jury material related to Ghi...

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