Seattle Designates Iran-Egypt Match as 2026 Pride Game

Seattle's local organizing committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has designated a Group G match between Iran and Egypt as the city's inaugural Pride Match, set for June 26 at Lumen Field. The fixture, which falls during the city's Pride weekend and two days before the June 28 anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, highlights the tournament's efforts to promote inclusivity amid the participating nations' differing legal stances on LGBTQ rights.

The Pride Match was planned well before the World Cup draw on June 21, 2024, in Washington, D.C., and the full schedule release the following day. Seattle's committee aimed to align the event with Pride Month celebrations, selecting the date to elevate local and national Pride activities. The match was chosen from Seattle's slate of six hosted games, including the United States men's national team's second group stage contest on June 19, designated for Juneteenth observances. Other potential fixtures on June 26, such as Belgium versus New Zealand in Group G, were assigned to Vancouver, Canada, leaving the Iran-Egypt clash for Lumen Field.

Both Iran and Egypt criminalize same-sex relationships under their laws. In Iran, penalties can...