There is no Seattle without Queer people. The World Cup is no exception. As fans come to Seattle to watch the greatest soccer tournament on Earth, many Seattleites are excited for the hype.
Longtime Seattle residents and married couple Chris Bierrum and Brian Pellham grew up playing soccer. The pair are looking forward to welcoming tourists to the city.
When they first found out about the World Cup coming to Seattle, the couple were ecstatic to see their city chosen as a venue.
“I think it’s a huge honor to be included,” Bierrum said. “I feel like Seattle doesn’t get picked a lot of times for things like this. I was excited to see that it wasn’t just California, New York, Texas.”
Seattle World Cup games will be held on June 15, June 19, June 24, June 26, July 1, and July 6. Tickets are between $200 and $1,000.
Pellham, who works a few blocks from Lumen Field, where World Cup matches will be held, said he is hoping to invite passersby to watch the games if they’re not able to afford tickets.
“A lot of our employees want to watch the games,” Pellham said, “But the tickets are kind of pricey, so we’re trying to figure out how to [do that].” There are plans to open the door of the warehouse to the street, so Pellham is ready to welcome people on the block to join their watch parties.
“We want to make an event out of it,” Pellham said. “We’re just gonna open those doors and get a bunch of friends over. Or even people that come by and just want to hang out a little bit.”
Pride Match
In early 2025, FIFA decided to call the match taking place on June 26 the “Pride Match.” In December of last year, it was announced that the two teams playing in that game will be Iran and Egypt. In Iran, being openly homosexual is both illegal and often punishable by death. While not explicitly illegal in Egypt, it is still extremely dangerous to be Queer.
However, this is not swaying Pellham and Bierrum from their excitement.
“I think that’s something really positive for our community,” Bierrum said about the match being between these two countries.
“I’m glad that they’re calling it a Pride Match,” Pellham added. Even though it could be seen as scary to have two countries where it’s dangerous to be Queer playing during Seattle Pride, the couple have taken a positive stance, choosing to view it as a moment for potential connection rather than something intimidating.
Bierrum and Pellham own a vacation rental in downtown Seattle and will be renting it out to people coming for games, they said. The pair are planning on making rainbow-sequin soccer ball cups and giving soccer-themed gift baskets to their guests for the Pride Match.
“I grew up in Montana, very closeted,” Bierrum said. “And I didn’t come out until after college, so I’m just really excited to see young people coming out here. It’s a very positive experience that’s so much different from what I experienced as a youth or young adult.”
The Pride Match, however controversial it may be, hasn’t deterred even the newest fans of the sport. Seattle resident Zane Cimino recently started watching soccer after discovering the TV show Ted Lasso.
Cimino has watched a few Seattle Sounders games and wants to know more about the sport in general, especially FIFA’s stance on Queer rights.
“I want to do more research on that part of the sport,” Cimino said. “I don’t want to support anything that isn’t supportive of me.”
Supporters and fans
For those living in Seattle and feeling inspired by the World Cup, the Emerald City Supporters’ Pub League is a place to put skills learned from watching World Cup games to the test. It’s described by owner JP Nichols as a radically inclusive, extremely beginner-friendly soccer league where zero experience is required to join. Adults can play pick-up or practice their skills.
For those not able to afford tickets, there will be no shortage of places to watch the games. For example, Rough and Tumble, Seattle’s main sports bar exclusively for women’s sports. While the World Cup this summer is between men’s teams, owner Jen Barnes said they’ll show the Seattle-based games.
“We’re proud to be the home for LGBTIA+ soccer fans in Seattle,” Barnes said in an emailed statement.
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