Many in Seattle turned out to display support for gay rights in the face of opposition from the two teams.
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Kevin Gallagher spent about $700 to watch the World Cup match between Egypt and Iran even though he describes himself as a “medium-term soccer fan.”
Gallagher, 70, didn’t want to miss the game on Friday that city officials had designated as a “Pride Match,” because it was scheduled on the opening day of the city’s long-standing celebration of Pride Month. That the game featured two countries with cultural and legal prohibitions against gay people made his presence in full rainbow regalia of a bucket hat, button-up shirt and shoes even more important.
“It feels disappointing that it’s 2026 and the world still grapples with this idea that you should be punished, killed, harassed. And as someone who has been harassed, intimidated, threatened in the U.S. — we were there once, too,” Gallagher, a longtime teacher, said. “I stand on the shoulders of those who preceded me.”
Despite the initial controversy over the Pride Match — with the Egyptian and Iranian teams demanding that FIFA avoid displays of LGBTQ+ support inside the stadium — the mood outside the stadium Friday was largely calm and celebratory.
A high-energy brass band, many members clad in rainbow tie-dye, played loud tunes. A dog wearing a “Bark for Equality” sign around its neck, along with an American flag bandanna and sunglasses, posed for its owner in front of three people who held a large sign reading “FIFA: No LGBT Agenda. Let Football, be Football.”
The biggest scuffles before the game came had more to do with Iranian politics than gay rights. A large number of Iranian resistance protesters flying Lion and Sun flags in support of Iran’s previous Shah-led government engaged in shouting matches with fans supporting the current regime.
Many attendees at the game found it funny and even ironic that Egypt and Iran would be the teams that ended up scheduled to play on the Pride Match date.
“I don’t believe in a higher power, but I do believe that there was some planetary alignment, or the universe was saying, ‘This is what needs to happen,’” said Adrian Duckett, who traveled a couple hours south for the game. He and his friend had just finished posing with their rainbow flags behind a protester calling for people to repent to Jesus.
Married couple Michael and Steven Cole-Schwartz bought tickets before they knew who would be playing, and were excited to be at the Pride game.
“I think it is important when you have a gathering of people from all over the world, that the LGBTQ community is represented in some way,” Michael Cole-Schwartz said. “And especially for the teams playing, Egypt and Iran, I think about all the queer people in those countries who are silenced and made invisible. We have some way, at least, to represent them and be in solidarity with them.”
Seattle’s local World Cup organizing committee planned a Pride Match day about two years ago — long before the draw that determined what teams would play on that date. The committee picked the June 26 game because it coincides with Seattle Pride’s main weekend, always celebrated at the end of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.
“Pride nights celebrate our queer community, show them that they’re loved, that they’re safe, and show people that are allies or wanting to become allies that it’s a really important and beautiful part of our world,” said Jen Barnes, co-chair of the Pride Match Impact Council, and owner of women’s sports-focused bar Rough & Tumble.
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But the Egyptian and Iranian teams urged FIFA to reject the “organization of any activities related to support for LGBTQ+ causes during Egypt’s match against Iran,” according to a letter the Egyptian Football Association sent the governing body in December. In a statement this week, the association attempted to distance itself from the Pride day.
“We are only here to play a football match and have nothing to do with what is happening outside,” Egyptian team spokesman Mohamed Mourad said in a statement to The Washington Post.
The Iranian Football Federation also issued a statement, saying it told FIFA that no activities associated with “this movement” should take place in the stadium or as part of the “match environment.”
Iran criminalizes same-sex sexual activity, and although Egypt does not explicitly do so, it has used other laws to prosecute LGBTQ+ people.
None of the Pride Match day events were planned for inside the stadium — that is FIFA’s domain, and the local organizing committee only has jurisdiction for activities outside its walls. Seattle’s committee encouraged fans to wear Pride gear, to visit LGBTQ+-owned businesses, to attend Pride watch parties and to participate in a social media video campaign.
FIFA, which has a political neutrality policy, attempted to distance itself from the Pride activities. President Gianni Infantino said in January that “there will be no ‘Pride Match’ at the World Cup.” But the organization confirmed this week that rainbow flags would be allowed within the stadium, as would other general statements of human rights.
“Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events,” the organization said in a statement.
For many queer Seattleites and allies, the decision to hold a Pride Match was an obvious one. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of the city’s culture.
“This is the city that we’re in, this is the environment that we’re having the games in, and these are the people who are going to come to the games,” said Claire Voelk, a 21-year-old Seattleite who wore rainbow face paint.
Gallagher, the teacher, said the game had a great energy, though he wished for a bit more rainbow and pride visibility.
Iran appeared to have won with a late goal but it was ruled offside and the game ended in a tie.
“Unsurprisingly for a pride match it had to end with a healthy dose of drama,” Michael Cole-Schwartz texted as the match ended.
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