Iran is headed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and fans should be joining. But the nation has some demands, including removing Pride flags.

It's gonna be a Pride match no matter what FIFA says, the only question is how visible it will be on the broadcast:

Since confirmation last December that Iran and Egypt would contest the previously designated “Pride Match” — a development which led to both national federations complaining to FIFA — there has been an understandably cautious approach to the host city’s plans.

Nevertheless, specially commissioned Pride artwork by local designers continues to form part of the visual messaging in Seattle.

Get fucked!

It's ridiculous that any changes are made to any of the host stadiums.

My hometown stadium literally had to cover the name of the stadium.

Fuck that bullshit... It's Gillette Stadium!

Iran and Egypt are welcome to sit the world cup out then.

I know I will. For three reasons:

• I don't watch sportball. Don't play sportball. Have no interest in sportball.
• FIFA is known to be one of the most corrupt entities in the world
• the world cup is in the US, which is now also one of the most corrupt entities (technically, governments) in the world that goes against core human values and rights

While they probably don't want pride flags, they didnt directly ask for it to be banned at all. Probably more scared of Iranian flag variants.

What a shit article.

Adding the “sportsball” stuff removes a lot of the impact from this take.

"having a personal, subjective opinion about a topic takes away from having an opinion in general"

that's one dumbass statement.

i find it odd that you'd be upset that your 'hometown' stadium is temporarily using the name of the actual 'hometown' instead of some multimillionaire dollar company brand name.

No it didnt. Headline = lie.

At one time, it actually was called by the town name (smaller stadium, same location). I'm not particularly bothered by the name Gillette. In particular because the owner built the stadium with private $$, vs taxpayers being on the hook for a big chunk.