World Cup
Iran‑Egypt pride match sparks controversy at World Cup
The World Cup’s Iran‑Egypt clash on 26 June in Seattle is billed as a pride‑match amid the city’s LGBTQ+ weekend, despite objections from the two teams. Meanwhile, the tournament sees a flurry of updates, from Denzel Dumfries’ remarks on Morocco’s squad to New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley’s call for points against the Netherlands.
Denzel Dumfries laughed after the Netherlands‑Tunisia game, saying “Morocco has a good team, it feels a bit like a derby”. He added that every Dutch player knows a Moroccan player and he follows Hakimi at Inter.
Virgil van Dijk warned that the upcoming match against Morocco will be a very difficult pot, saying the outside world can decide the favourite but the Dutch side knows the challenge. He stressed that all puzzle pieces must fall into place to avoid mistakes.
New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley told a press conference in Vancouver that his team is excited and ready for the game against the Netherlands. He noted that the World Cup is a tough challenge and that the New Zealand side has only one point, which still gives them something to play for in the group stage.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino clarified that the Iran‑Egypt encounter will not be an official pride‑match, even though flags and displays may be allowed in the stadium. The decision leaves the exact nature of the LGBTQ+ festivities around the match uncertain.
Belgian official Bram Van Driessche is set to serve as assistant VAR for the France‑Norway game taking place today at 21:00 Belgian time. He hopes the Dutch team does not progress far, which would give him a chance to work a semifinal or final as VAR.
Rudi Garcia said he must lead the Red Devils to a win against New Zealand. He also addressed the uncertainty surrounding the fitness of Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku ahead of Belgium’s match against New Zealand.
Defender Brandon Mechele of Club Brugge stressed that Belgium must win against New Zealand, as a loss would eliminate them after draws with Egypt and Iran. He emphasized that points are essential for the Red Devils to stay in the tournament.