World Cup 2026: Iran and Egypt to compete in Seattle ‘match of pride’

In the fans’ zone, we found Egypt fans cheering against Mexico days before their team met Iran. For them, gay pride means nothing.

“Now there are two teams trying to get to the next round,” Makarius Damian told us in support of gay rights. “Pride match or no pride match, that’s not the point.”

Not far from the big screen, a pop-up Egyptian restaurant is being prepared for the match – and for fans craving a taste of home. ‘Koshari’ is the staple food of Egypt; Mix lentils, chickpeas, pasta, fried onion and garlic tomato sauce.

Owners Ayman Almasri and Amani Abouammo closed their Koshari restaurant for the duration of the World Cup to open a pop-up version of Fan Zone, serving Egyptian vegan street food.

They say that having Egypt and Iran play in a pride match is shameful and based on cultural misunderstanding.

“This is the culture. People are used to it,” Abuamo said. “Back home, people are not used to it. It’s a confusion where each party can’t understand the other side.”

There is a lot of danger on the field. Egypt came into this game on a high after beating New Zealand and are likely to win Group G.

Iran, meanwhile, were allowed to reach the host city earlier than previous matches, but their tournament was shaped by politics, travel restrictions and preparation-time grievances in a very different mood.

As Egypt and Iran try to move closer to the knockout stages, this match is about more than just the pitch.

It’s a glimpse of what happens when a World Cup celebrates one set of values ​​in one city, with two of the two teams arriving with their own teams.