India, Dec. 8 -- Seattle's 2026 World Cup Pride Match will feature one of the tournament's most politically charged fixtures, with Egypt set to face Iran in a game that local organisers insist will champion inclusion despite both countries' harsh anti-LBGTQ laws.

The match is scheduled for June 26, 2026 - Pride weekend Friday - at Lumen Field and has been formally designated as the city's "Pride Match" by Seattle's host committee, as reported by Outsports. Earlier scheduling permutations could have produced a more comfortable pairing, such as New Zealand vs Belgium, but the final draw instead placed Egypt and Iran together in Group G.

The choice has sparked intense debate because same-sex relationships remain criminalised in both nation...