Rainbow flags dot Iran and Egypt's match as Seattle celebrates Pride during the World Cup

Rainbow flags fluttered among the sea of Iranian and Egyptian banners at Seattle's World Cup stadium Friday, as teams from two of the most repressive countries for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people took to the field.

It was just a coincidence that the city's "Pride Match" ended up as a high-stakes matchup between Iran and Egypt — ultimately a 1-1 draw — and it came with plenty of pushback from both countries. But Seattle officials and its soccer community say the distinctive pairing was an opportunity to showcase the city's inclusivity as well as the common ground that can be found at the World Cup.