Thanks to President Trump, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the United States, with 16 American cities selected to host matches.
Those host cities include Atlanta; Boston/Foxborough; Dallas/Arlington; Houston; Kansas City; Los Angeles/Inglewood; Miami/Miami Gardens; New York/New Jersey/East Rutherford; Philadelphia; the San Francisco Bay Area/Santa Clara; and Seattle.
Group Stage matches are scheduled to arrive in Seattle in June, during Pride Month. The city plans to kick off Pride weekend with a special “Pride Match” at Lumen Field on June 26, featuring two countries that criminalize homosexuality, Egypt and Iran.
Quite comfortably the funniest/ironic/sad game to emerge from the World Cup group stage draw:
— Ben Green (@BenGreenJeru) December 8, 2025
Iran and Egypt to play Seattle’s World Cup LGBTQ Pride match.
Both Egypt and Iran criminalize gay relationships. In Iran, capital punishment is still the maximum penalty under the law. pic.twitter.com/3vIoWVP8X0
Egypt criminalizes homosexual relationships, and Iran can impose the death penalty on LGBTQ+ individuals. So while the city of Seattle will choose to celebrate pride, it has nothing to say about hosting teams from regimes that consider that pride itself a crime.
"It is a Host City–led expression of Seattle and Washington State’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone belongs: players, fans, residents, and visitors alike," a spokesperson for the PMAC told OutSports. "Soccer has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs. We are honored to host a Pride Match and to celebrate Pride as part of a global football community. This match reflects our ongoing commitment to respect, dignity, and unity for all."
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Let's see if soccer is strong enough to unite Seattle's LGBTQ+ and those from countries that seek to murder the members of its community.
