SEATTLE – Having attended the first three World Cup games in Seattle and been surprised in different ways each time, I knew better than to bring too many expectations to Friday’s match between Egypt and Iran.
What I knew was that this match has been surrounded by a certain intrigue ever since it was announced. Through a bit of scheduling serendipity, this match had previously been dubbed the “Pride Match” by local organizers. The idea was that it fell at the start of Seattle’s Pride Week and could be used as a vehicle to promote inclusiveness.
That two nations that have aggressively anti-LBGTQ policies were the ones playing was not an irony lost on just about anyone. And in case anyone didn’t pick up on that on their own, the two countries put out statements explicitly demanding the classification be removed. It was not.
FIFA declined to step in, deferring the decision to the Local Organizing Committee. Seattle, more generally, moved forward.
Somewhat interestingly, though, the Pride Match designation ended up more of a sidenote.
There were some Pride flags visible in the stadium, more than a few fans came decked out in rainbow gear and there was certainly some signage outside, but it was almost lost amidst a lot more unrelated activity.
Egypt fans, for instance, arrived to the stadium as part of a massive march that started on the waterfront and snaked its way through Pioneer Square. Thousands strong, it included young and old and was punctuated by chants, costumes and flags.
Photos by Joe Towner / @PNWMF and Jeremiah Oshan
The scene closer to the stadium was less overtly supportive of either team, with various factions that had much more specific agendas around various causes. There was the group calling for Iranian freedom, who flew the old Lion and Sun flag of the pre-Islamic Revolution government. They were periodically confronted by fans carrying the current flag of Iran. Another group staged a street soccer game with protest signs creating the sidelines that championed a host of causes and chants demanding that FIFA expel Israel from its organization.
In what has been a consistent theme during the matches, the differences inside the stadium were almost exclusively about which team various fans supported. At least until the first hydration break, the stands were literally buzzing with excitement. From the horns to the chants, there was a constant din that rose to a literal roar when the two teams traded goals.
Although the two teams failed to maintain the furious pace the game started with, it only served to set up one of the most exciting endings to a match that I’ve ever witnessed. Shojae Khalilzadeh appeared to score the game-winning goal for Iran in second-half stoppage time, sending fans into rapturous celebration. But before the crowd could even fully settle down, the referee announced that VAR had deemed Khalilzadeh offside, albeit only by the thinnest of margins.
Iran continued to push for a winner that would have guaranteed their spot in the Round of 32, but had one shot blocked on the doorstep and another hit off the crossbar. Despite playing heroically and not losing a match at the World Cup while dealing with a host of non-sporting challenges, Iran was ultimately sent home after three different results went against them on Saturday.
"What our team did should be written in history," Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said through a translator, noting that his team was forced to train in Mexico and had limited time to prepare in-city before each match. "The behavior against us has been really terrible and I hope the whole world knows.
"The world is now proud of Iran and our team. … I urge FIFA to not let hosts treat teams like this in the future."
As poorly as Iran's players and staff were treated, fans at least seemed to be free to enjoy themselves. The energy inside the stadium seemed to mix harmoniously with the Pride energy that was kicking up for the weekend. Whatever tense energy that seemed to be swirling before the match had clearly dissipated. An hour after the game, music was still thumping at the bars and restaurants outside the stadium, and Occidental Square was still packed with dancing fans. It wasn’t how I imagined this scene would look, but it was another reminder of the power of sport to bring people together.
