Overview
- The June 26 fixture at Lumen Field had been selected in advance as Seattle’s Pride Match to align with the city’s Pride weekend.
- Following the tournament draw that paired Egypt with Iran, the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee said the Pride designation will stand with a focus on a welcoming environment.
- PMAC is not affiliated with FIFA, and observers characterize the matchup as a reputational test for the tournament after LGBTQ-related criticism at Qatar 2022.
- Human-rights organizations report that same-sex relations are criminalized in both countries, with Iran allowing the death penalty in some cases and Egypt’s LGBTQ+ community facing repeated repression and arrests.
- Committee member Eric Wahl said the occasion could give LGBTQ people from those nations a chance to attend and celebrate safely in Seattle.