When the initial 2026 World Cup schedule was released two years ago, the date of Seattle’s final group-stage contest fashioned an unmissable opportunity. The “Emerald City”, positioned with its exquisite downtown skyline off the Pacific coast in Washington state, is famous for its spectacular Pride celebrations at the end of June. It coincides with the 1969 Stonewall Riots, seen as the catalyst for the liberation of gay people in the United States more than 55 years ago.
For Jen Barnes, founder and CEO of Rough & Tumble – a first-of-its-kind sports bar which promotes gender equity and inclusivity in sports viewing and fandom – Friday is a chance to parade the LGBTQ+ community in perfect harmony with the world’s most popular sport and its greatest show.
