SEATTLE: Before coach Amir Ghalenoei or goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand answered any questions Thursday ahead of Iran’s World Cup match with Egypt, a FIFA official spoke up. Daniel Marin, FIFA’s executive director of public relations, read a statement in light of the teams meeting in a “Pride Match” in Seattle on Friday. “This Islamic Republic of the Iran Football Federation has asked us to inform the media that they are only willing to answer questions in relation to the game,” Marin said. “We fully respect the right of all journalists to ask questions.

"They're not going to turn off the World Cup on state television in Iran or Egypt to block out a Pride flag in the audience," Cairns said.

The two countries, both of which criminalize LGBTQ relationships, have lodged complaints in the past.