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World Cup: 'Pride Match' sparks objections in Egypt and Iran

DW English · Jun 26, 2026, 1:22 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • Friday night's game in Seattle was designated as a "Pride Match" well ahead of the World Cup draw.
  • https://p.dw.com/p/5G6ou Seattle Pride takes place every year at the end of June.
  • Saturday's World Cup Group G clash between Iran and Egypt in northwestern US city of Seattle won't just determine who will progress to the knock-out round;

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

Friday night's game in Seattle was designated as a "Pride Match" well ahead of the World Cup draw. The fixture list then threw up Egypt vs. Iran, two countries in which homosexuality is criminalized.

https://p.dw.com/p/5G6ou Seattle Pride takes place every year at the end of June. This year, it coincides with Egypt vs. Iran Image: Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo/picture alliance Advertisement Rainbow flags in the stands, Pride events across the city, colorful parties in the streets. And right in the middle of it all: a football match between two nations united in their hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Saturday's World Cup Group G clash between Iran and Egypt in northwestern US city of Seattle won't just determine who will progress to the knock-out round; it is also generating significant political controversy in the buildup.

Article preview — originally published by DW English. Full story at the source.
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