Rainbow flags were seen waving among the sea of Iranian and Egyptian banners at Seattle's World Cup stadium on Friday, as teams from two of the most repressive countries for LGBTQ+ people took to the field in a match that became an unlikely symbol of inclusivity.
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It was just a coincidence that the city's "Pride Match" ended up as a high-stakes matchup between Iran and Egypt, with advancement from Group G still undecided, and the move came with plenty of pushback from both countries. But Seattle officials and its soccer community said the distinctive pairing was an opportunity to showcase the city's inclusivity.
