Seattle's World Cup 'Pride Match' to Feature Egypt and Iran

A designated LGBTQ+ "Pride Match" at the 2026 World Cup in Seattle will feature Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is illegal, according to reporting by BBC Sport.

The match at Seattle's Lumen Field on June 26 was planned by local organizers before the World Cup draw determined which teams would play. Following Friday's draw and Saturday's fixture allocation, the Group G match between Egypt and Iran was assigned to that date. The BBC reports that in Iran, homosexual relations carry a maximum punishment of death, while Egypt uses morality laws to suppress LGBTQ+ rights and relationships.

The event, organized by Seattle's local committee and not affiliated with FIFA, coincides with the city's official Pride weekend. According to the BBC, artists in Washington state have been invited to submit artwork celebrating LGBTQ+ people for display around the game and throughout the city.

Despite the controversial pairing, the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee told LGBT news outlet Outsports that the game will proceed as planned. A spokesperson said, according to the BBC, that "Soccer has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs," adding "This match reflects our ongoing commitment to respect, dignity, and unity for all."

The situation echoes problems from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where FIFA threatened yellow cards for players wearing OneLove armbands supporting LGBTQ+ people. England and Wales were among teams that abandoned those plans following FIFA's ruling, the BBC reported.

BBC Sport has reached out to FIFA, the Seattle organizing committee, and the Egyptian and Iranian Football Associations for comment.