There’s an interesting cultural phenomenon happening right now bringing queerness and organized sport together in the Zeitgeist. One example is the 2026 Fifa World Cup Match between Egypt and Iran scheduled in June in the midst of host city Seattle’s annual pride celebrations, a plan that was made prior to anyone knowing which teams would be playing. Government officials from both competing countries have gotten their panties in a twist over this, with Egypt officially petitioning FIFA to nix the Pride celebratory elements from the event. At this time there are no signs of FIFA kowtowing to the pressure. Same-sex relations is punishable by death in Iran, and Egypt has morality laws that suppress LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. Seattle, on the other hand, is a gay-friendly city with one of the largest percentages of queer residents among large American cities. We shall keep you posted, dear sexual subjects, as to how this transnational kerfuffle plays out.
That Awkward World Cup Situation Continues to Unfold
