World Cup 2026: Egypt and Iran can kick rocks with their request to cancel the Pride Match in Seattle

FIFA had to see this coming. Last week it was announced that the 2026 World Cup in the United States will feature its first official Pride Match on June 26 at Lumen Field in Seattle.

The idea is to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion and give the tournament a moment of unity for all. Simple enough on paper. Except for the small detail that the two nations selected for this historic event are Egypt and Iran.

If you are not familiar with the human rights situations in those countries, let me put it gently. Being gay can get you arrested, tortured, or killed.

You cannot script this level of absurdity. Seattle will host Egypt versus Iran for Pride Month. Incredible programming.

Egypt’s laws are not a mystery. They do not explicitly write “being gay is illegal” into their Penal Code, but everything surrounding it fills in the gaps. Vague morality laws. Accusations of debauchery. Indecency. Violating family values. Police sting operations on dating apps. Three year sentences that end up being six. They find a way.

Iran is somehow worse. There are documented cases of torture, public execution, and brutal public humiliation. Getting outed can be a death sentence. That is the reality.

Naturally these were the chosen nations for Pride Weekend. Honestly, it is darkly hilarious.

FIFA World Cup: Seattle will hold a ‘Pride Match’ between Egypt vs Iran to celebrate LGBTQ equality

Of course Egypt complained almost immediately. According to reports, the Egyptian Football Association sent a formal request to FIFA asking for the Pride Match celebration to be cancelled.

Egypt wants to cancel the Pride Match in the 2026 World Cup

It’s bad, but not as bad as Qatar stopping beer sales after everyone already arrived with the promise of beer

— PT Grimes (@pt_grimes) December 9, 2025

People are now arguing over what the Pride Match issue really is, so let’s break it down.

Iran was pissed about it too, btw >>

First argument. The World Cup and the United States should respect the cultural and religious views of visiting countries. Egypt and Iran should not have to deal with something that violates their beliefs.

I do not agree. This is America.

We are the host. We set the tone and we set the rules. We can do whatever we want both inside and outside a World Cup match. Land of the free. Home of some gays. That is how this works.

Not to mention, while I do support the LGBTQ+ community whole heartedly, the idea that the culture defines our entire national identity is a stretch, right? Only 7-percent of the population identifies as LGBTQ+. That is not “American culture” in its entirety. It is a piece of it. The Pride Match now is too. Relax.

Then again, I remember Qatar 2022.

Qatar pretended to be welcoming and then spent the entire tournament policing beer, clothing, intimacy, public behavior, and any hint of independent journalism.

They banned alcohol sales after promising the opposite. They interfered with a one hundred million dollar Budweiser deal like it was nothing. They restricted fan travel, monitored visitors through required geolocation apps, forced civilians into mandatory labor, and even banned public broadcasts of matches.

The fan village was literally shipping containers in the desert. People were told there was no sex unless married, no affection in public, no alcohol, and certainly no LGBTQ+ representation. It was a complete embarrassment.

Qatar is now selling non-alcoholic beer ONLY at 2022 World Cup matches >>

Did Egypt or Iran complain then? I think you know the answer.

Of course they didn’t. They were perfectly comfortable with another country forcing its beliefs on millions of visitors because they held the same laws and beliefs within their own borders too.

So spare me the lectures on respecting cultural values.

The World Cup has always been a showcase of the host nation. When you host, you spend a fortune to show the world who you are. This time the tournament is here. North America. Land of the free. The party will be massive and everyone will be welcome.

Enough of these nations and their oppressive laws. If you cannot extend basic human decency to your own people, you should not be dictating anything to the rest of us. That goes for Egypt, Iran, Russia, China, and Qatar.

The United States will have zero issues hosting the World Cup. You can date whoever you want. Hold hands with whoever you want. Celebrate however you want. Enjoy the games because this country believes in freedom.

Which brings me back to the point.

Egypt can kindly get lost with their request to cancel the Pride Match. If they keep complaining, then we’ll go ahead and make all matches they participate carry the Pride Match theme. Probably best to sit down, shut up, and work on growing a spine.

Welcome to the free world. I have never stood this close, shoulder to shoulder, with my LGBTQ brothers and sisters before, and honestly, it feels great.

America first. We are not bending the knee to Egypt, Iran, or anyone else over a Pride Match.

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