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Seattle’s World Cup ‘Pride Match’ to Feature Two Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal
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Seattle’s World Cup ‘Pride Match’ to Feature Two Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal

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Seattle will host a World Cup Group G match between Iran and Egypt on June 26 at Lumen Field, a date that coincides with the city’s annual pride weekend.

The event has been designated as the World Cup “Pride Match,” despite both participating countries maintaining laws that make homosexuality illegal.

The match falls on a Friday and is one of several World Cup fixtures scheduled for the city in 2026.

According to officials involved in organizing the event, the Pride Match was planned before the teams were selected and before Friday’s 2026 World Cup Draw in Washington, D.C.

A spokesperson for the Pride Match Advisory Committee told Outsports, “The Pride Match has been scheduled to celebrate and elevate Pride events in Seattle and across the country, and it was planned well in advance.”

The spokesperson said, “It is a Host City–led expression of Seattle and Washington State’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone belongs: players, fans, residents, and visitors alike. Soccer has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures and beliefs. We are honored to host a Pride Match and to celebrate Pride as part of a global football community. This match reflects our ongoing commitment to respect, dignity, and unity for all.”

Seattle is one of the U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Earlier this year, the local organizing committee announced a Pride Match design contest, inviting Washington State artists “with credibility in authentically representing the LGBTQ+ community” to submit artwork for consideration.

The contest was announced over the summer as part of the city’s broader preparation efforts for the tournament.

On the Seattle World Cup website, the organizing committee issued a disclaimer stating that “the Pride Match design is an independent creation specifically for the Seattle FWC26 LOC and is not an official FIFA asset. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by FIFA.”

The committee announced last month that three finalists had been selected for their original Pride Match designs.

Lumen Field will host six World Cup events in total, including the U.S. Men’s National Team’s second group stage match on June 19.

The Pride Match will take place one week later, during a period marked by local and national pride celebrations.

The anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising is June 28, commemorating the date when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

The World Cup has previously been the focus of international scrutiny over LGBTQ+ rights.

During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, issues arose regarding local restrictions on expression.

Homosexuality in Qatar is illegal and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. FIFA announced that players who wore “OneLove” armbands in support of the LGBTQ+ community would receive yellow cards, and security personnel acted against rainbow banners and other pride-related symbols inside stadiums.

American journalist Grant Wahl tweeted during the 2022 tournament that he was prevented from entering the stadium for the United States–Wales match because of his shirt, which featured a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow.

Wahl later died of an ascending aortic aneurysm while covering the World Cup.

His brother, Eric Wahl, who is a member of the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee and identifies as an out gay man, commented on the upcoming Iran–Egypt match.

He said he believes the event “is a good thing” because “all are welcome to to be themselves in Seattle.”

ICE Reveals Illinois Released 1,700 Criminal Aliens Despite Active Detainers
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ICE Reveals Illinois Released 1,700 Criminal Aliens Despite Active Detainers

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has alerted Illinois officials that violent criminal illegal aliens are being released from state and local custody despite active immigration detainers, according to a letter shared with Fox News Digital.

Todd Lyons, ICE’s senior official performing the duties of director, said Illinois has “tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens” in custody, including individuals convicted of murder, rape, child pornography, and armed robbery.

Lyons said these offenders “should be swiftly removed from the United States … and not be returned to our streets to wreak havoc on law-abiding citizens.”

ICE data shows that since January 2025, Illinois has released 1,768 criminal aliens who had active detainers.

The agency said the crimes associated with these individuals include homicides, assaults, burglaries, weapons violations, and sexual-predatory offenses.

ICE also reported that another 4,015 criminal aliens with pending detainers remain in state or local custody.

According to the agency, those cases include individuals connected to 51 homicides and more than 800 sexual-predatory offenses.

The agency provided examples of detainers that were not honored, which required federal officers to locate the offenders after their release.

Among the cases listed were Victor Manuel Mendoza-Garcia, convicted of three counts of aggravated kidnapping; Juan Morales Martinez, tied to a fatal vehicle crash; and Amilcar Waldo Gonzalez-Jimenez, convicted of two counts of criminal sexual assault.

In each case, ICE said local agencies did not alert federal officers before releasing the individuals.

Other examples cited by ICE involved convictions for child abduction, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, attempted murder, and aggravated kidnapping.

ICE documents state that some of the offenders were later re-arrested or removed from the country.

Lyons said Illinois’ continued refusal to comply with immigration detainers “plainly jeopardizes public safety” and asked whether the state plans to alter its approach or continue releasing violent offenders who may otherwise “walk the streets of Illinois again.”

Illegal Alien Trucker Almost Takes Out Oklahoma State Trooper in Wild Dashcam Video
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Illegal Alien Trucker Almost Takes Out Oklahoma State Trooper in Wild Dashcam Video

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Troopers from Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Troop E responded to a roadway hazard last month on US-69 in Pittsburg County after a commercial motor vehicle hauling loose tires lost part of its load.

The tires crossed a barrier wall and struck an OHP unit, creating a dangerous situation for nearby drivers.

The driver stopped and was identified as Kutmanali Bekbolot, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

During the traffic stop, troopers determined that Bekbolot did not understand English.

According to OHP, the investigation showed he had been living in New York, where he was issued a commercial driver’s license.

Troopers questioned his immigration status and contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

After the consultation, authorities determined that Bekbolot did not have legal status to be in the United States.

He was taken into custody and later transferred to ICE. Bekbolot told officials he entered the country through Mexico.

OHP said the incident demonstrated the value of its coordination with federal immigration authorities.

The agency reported that individuals without legal status who hold commercial driver’s licenses are not meeting standard requirements for licensed commercial drivers.

OHP noted concerns about roadway safety and cited previous incidents in which loose tires caused injuries and fatalities. In this case, only the OHP unit was damaged.

The agency said the response aligned with its mission to protect Oklahoma residents by enforcing safety requirements and identifying risks that emerge during traffic stops.

Troopers reported that immediate action was necessary because unsecured tire loads have led to serious crashes in the past.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol released video of the interaction between Bekbolot and the OHP officer.

In the footage, the driver struggled to answer basic questions, and the trooper asked multiple times where Bekbolot lived before he provided a response.

Officials said the video illustrated communication difficulties that occurred during the stop and contributed to the decision to review the driver’s documentation.

Bekbolot held a New York commercial driver’s license at the time of the incident.

According to troopers, the tire load came loose because it had not been secured properly.

Several tires entered the opposite lanes after bouncing over the barrier wall, and one struck the patrol unit involved in the stop.

Federal and state officials have acknowledged challenges connected to commercial driver’s license issuance procedures that developed in previous years.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that federal authorities are reviewing the matter, including cases in which licenses were issued to individuals later determined not to have lawful status.

The department has stated publicly that it intends to evaluate state licensing practices in coordination with federal partners.

OHP has reported that the agency will continue working with ICE when immigration questions arise during traffic stops, particularly when commercial vehicles are involved.

Officials said the agency will take steps to address any conditions that could endanger Oklahoma drivers, including unsecured cargo on commercial vehicles.

JD Vance Recounts Trump’s Joke About Team Member Size: ‘Says Plenty About a Man’
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JD Vance Recounts Trump’s Joke About Team Member Size: ‘Says Plenty About a Man’

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Vice President J.D. Vance shared a lighthearted anecdote during a Christmas party he hosted Friday, recounting an unexpected moment in the Oval Office earlier that day involving President Donald Trump and several senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported by The New York Post.

According to Vance, the group had been discussing an important matter when Trump abruptly paused the meeting.

“Today I’m in the Oval Office with the president,” Vance told attendees.

Vivek Vance rests his head while his father, Vice President JD Vance, speaks with President Donald Trump during the inauguration parade for President Donald Trump at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

“And we’re talking about something really, really important. And the president kind of holds up his hand and says, ‘No, no, hold on a second, there’s something much more important.’”

Vance said Trump looked over the Resolute Desk and told him and Rubio, “Marco, JD, you guys have s–tty shoes. We got to get you better shoes.” Trump then stepped out of the room and returned with a shoe catalog.

At that point, Vance said Trump began asking the group for their shoe sizes and announced he would be giving each of them four pairs.

Vance told the crowd he wears a size 13 shoe, Rubio wears an 11.5, and a third unnamed politician — whom Vance declined to identify — admitted to wearing a size 7.

Vance said Trump reacted to the exchange by leaning back and remarking, “You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.”

The moment prompted laughter from Vance’s audience, who recognized the callback to a widely noted exchange between Trump and Rubio during a 2016 Republican presidential primary debate.

At that debate, Rubio had made a reference to Trump’s “small hands,” prompting Trump to respond directly.

“I have to say this, he hit my hands. Nobody has ever hit my hands,” Trump said at the time.

“Look at those hands. Are they small hands? And he referred to my hands if they’re small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there’s no problem. I guarantee you.”

Vance told partygoers that interactions like Friday’s are consistent with the public image many Americans already have of the president.

“A lot of my interactions with Trump are exactly as you would expect it to look like if you watched on TV or just paid attention to the media,” Vance said.

“But sometimes you get these behind-the-scenes moments that I will never, ever forget for the rest of my life.”

Hoosiers QB Gives ‘Glory to God’ After Beating Ohio State in Big Ten Championship
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Hoosiers QB Gives ‘Glory to God’ After Beating Ohio State in Big Ten Championship

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza credited the Hoosiers’ Big Ten Championship win to faith, preparation, and team unity following the program’s 13–10 victory over Ohio State on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The win marked Indiana’s 13th consecutive victory and secured the conference title.

Mendoza completed 222 passing yards and threw one touchdown during the game.

Speaking with Fox Sports reporter Jenny Taft after the final whistle, he was asked what it felt like to be a Big Ten champion. “It sounds so beautiful,” Mendoza said.

He immediately added that he attributes the moment to faith.

“I want to give all the glory to God! We were never supposed to be in this position! But by the glory of God, the great coaches, great teammates, everybody we have around us, we were able to pull this off! Whoever thought the Hoosiers would be here?! But now the Hoosiers are flippin’ champs! Let’s go!”

Taft referenced the team’s internal description of themselves as “a bunch of misfits” and asked Mendoza why Indiana was the “right place” for this group.

Mendoza said the identity of the team was built on consistency and shared goals. “It’s the right place; we’re process-oriented!” he said.

“We’re going by day by day, whether it’s the offensive line, the defense, the coaches, special teams, we’re all process-oriented to one goal! That’s our thing is we’re brothers! We can drag teams into the deep end because we know we’re going to stick together, and we have the strongest glue ever!”

Mendoza then described his connection with wide receiver Charlie Becker, who played a key role during the season and in the championship matchup.

“Every single day and summer, we would always throw it before practice, at 7 a.m. on Sundays, doing spots, doing routes, and now you see it come to fruition!” Mendoza said.

“He’s my roommate! I couldn’t be happier for such a young man as well, as well as our defense playing lights out… What an incredible moment!”

Mendoza’s performance in the title game built on a strong regular season in which he threw for 2,758 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

He opened Saturday’s game with an early interception but recovered to lead the Hoosiers’ offense through the remainder of the contest.

With the victory, Indiana secured its place among the top programs of the season and positioned Mendoza as a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy.

Luigi Mangione Evidence Hearing Continues as Prosecutors Release Photos of ‘To-Do’ List, Items Found at Arrest
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Luigi Mangione Evidence Hearing Continues as Prosecutors Release Photos of ‘To-Do’ List, Items Found at Arrest

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A Manhattan court continued a fourth day of evidence suppression hearings Monday in the case of Luigi Mangione, who is charged with murder in the Dec. 4, 2024, killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as reported by The New York Post.

Mangione, 27, appeared at the defense table in Manhattan Supreme Court, where he briefly flashed a fist pump toward a courtroom camera while leaning in to speak with attorney Karen Friedman Agnofilo.

The hearing focused on evidence recovered from Mangione’s backpack after his Dec. 9, 2024, arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Christy Wasser of the Altoona Police Department testified about searching Mangione’s belongings following the arrest, which occurred roughly 100 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Over the weekend, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office released photographs of the items seized at the time, including a handwritten “to-do” list that prosecutors say was found on Mangione.

The list included an entry for a trip to Best Buy, with items such as “USB 256 flash drive,” “digital camera,” and “light source” marked under a Dec. 8 date and crossed out in the photos.

Additional notations included “Hot meal + water bottles” and “trash bags.” Under a separate heading labeled “Future TO DO,” entries read “Intel check in” next to Dec. 9 and “survival kit.”

Other evidence photos released by prosecutors showed Mangione had a small flashlight, a USB drive attached to a silver necklace, a pocket knife, and several thousand dollars in $100 bills.

Authorities also recovered a bus ticket bearing the name “Sam Dawson” for travel from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on Dec. 4 — the same day Thompson was fatally shot in Midtown Manhattan.

It has not been determined whether Mangione purchased the ticket. The name on the ticket matches the protagonist of the 2001 film I Am Sam, a character portrayed by Sean Penn.

The hearing will determine whether evidence retrieved by Altoona authorities, including the gun prosecutors allege was used in the killing, will be allowed at trial.

Mangione’s defense team is also contesting the admissibility of several statements he made to law enforcement following his arrest.

Court proceedings resumed Monday after Mangione was unable to attend Friday’s hearing due to an illness, the specifics of which were not disclosed.

In addition to the charges filed in New York, Mangione has an unrelated federal case pending. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The suppression hearing is set to continue as the court evaluates what evidence jurors may ultimately hear when the case moves to trial.

NYPD Officers Jump Into Freezing East River to Save 67-Year-Old Man
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NYPD Officers Jump Into Freezing East River to Save 67-Year-Old Man

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NYPD officers rescued a 67-year-old man from the East River on Nov. 30 after responding to a 911 call reporting a person struggling in the water near Furman Street and Montague Street in Brooklyn, as reported by The New York Post.

The incident occurred around 1:03 p.m., across from Manhattan’s Pier 11, an area with heavy daily ferry traffic.

According to police, officers arrived to find the man unable to reach the shoreline. Members of the NYPD Harbor Unit initially threw a rescue float over the railing in an attempt to assist him.

When it became clear he could not reach it, two officers jumped into the frigid water to make direct contact.

Video posted by the NYPD on X shows the officers swimming toward the man and pulling him to a rocky section of the shoreline. The footage then shows responders lifting him to safety using a ladder.

One officer is heard saying, “Relax, you’re OK,” as they secured him.

A group of NYPD Police Officers on duty in Manhattan, New York – NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES – FEBRUARY 14, 2023

The NYPD said units from Emergency Service, aviation, and scuba teams also responded to the scene. The man was transported to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in stable condition.

Authorities said it was not immediately clear how he ended up in the East River.

The NYPD highlighted the officers’ quick response in a statement posted on X.

Firefighters with the New York Fire Department conduct a week-long river rescue training with Indiana River Rescue School on top of a submerged vehicle in the East Race Waterway on April 25, 2024.

“When a 911 call came in about a person struggling in the water, the NYPD’s Harbor Unit dived right in. They didn’t hesitate, jumping into the freezing water and rescuing the individual, who is now in stable condition,” the message read.

“No fear. No delay. NY’s Finest.”

Officials did not release additional information about the man or whether he was able to communicate with first responders about what led to the incident.

The rescue occurred in an area known for strong currents and heavy boat traffic, prompting an extensive response from multiple NYPD units.

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to Step Down Following Trump’s Move to Federalize Metropolitan Police Department
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D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to Step Down Following Trump’s Move to Federalize Metropolitan Police Department

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Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith will leave her position at the end of the year, according to an announcement released Monday, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Her departure comes months after President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and authorize the deployment of National Guard personnel across Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – February 22, 2025: President Donald Trump arrives at the White House South Lawn on Marine One after his visit to CPAC.

NBC 4 Washington reported that Smith’s final day in office will be December 31. She was appointed in 2023 and became the first Black woman to serve as chief of the department.

Smith joined the MPD in 2022 and previously served as its Chief Equity Officer, where she led the agency’s DEI-related initiatives.

In a statement, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Smith assumed leadership during a challenging period for the city.

“She came in at a challenging time for our community, where there was significant urgency to reverse the crime trends our city was facing post-pandemic,” Bowser said.

“Chief Smith dramatically drove down violent crime, drove down the homicide rate to its lowest levels in eight years, and helped us restore a sense of safety and accountability in our neighborhoods. We are grateful for her service to Washington, DC.”

Smith also released a statement acknowledging her departure. “I am deeply humbled, grateful, and deeply appreciative of my time with the District of Columbia,” she said.

“Serving as Chief of Police has been the greatest honor of my career, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to Mayor Muriel Bowser for appointing me to this position and to the DC Council for their steadfast support throughout my tenure.”

Smith added, “I am confident that the department is in a strong position and that the great work will continue, moving in a positive trajectory to combat crime and enhance public safety. Washington, DC is an extraordinary place to live, visit, and work, and I remain inspired by the resilience and spirit of this community.”

President Trump announced over the summer that he was invoking federal authority to assume control of the Metropolitan Police Department.

“We’re formally declaring a public safety emergency. This is an emergency. This is a tragic emergency, and it’s embarrassing,” Trump said at the time.

“This city will no longer be a sanctuary for illegal alien criminals. We will have full, seamless, integrated cooperation at all levels of law enforcement, and we’ll deploy officers across the district with an overwhelming presence.”

Trump stated that Attorney General Pam Bondi was “taking command” of the department as part of the restructuring.

During a subsequent press conference, Smith was asked about the current chain of command.

When a reporter asked, “Do you know what the chain of command is now?” Smith replied, “What does that mean?” before walking away from the podium. Bowser then stepped in to continue the briefing.

Smith remains in her position until the end of December as federal oversight continues.


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