Sports
Robbie Rogers, L.A. Galaxy headed to D.C. in September
Status of gay player Robbie Rogers unclear after injury
Robbie Rogers came out earlier this year. (Photo by Noah Salzman via Wikimedia Commons)
The L.A. Galaxy come to RFK Stadium to take on D.C. United on Sept. 14 in a match that will begin at 4 p.m. Arguably, the Galaxy is the most visible and most talked about team in Major League Soccer (MLS), thanks in part to the six seasons that David Beckham played for them.
The “Beckham Effect” brought Major League Soccer onto the world stage and helped to increase the popularity of soccer in the United States. During Beckham’s six seasons with the Galaxy, seven expansion teams debuted in MLS, new stadiums were built and attendance for regular season and post-season matches soared.
The Galaxy is the two-time defending MLS Cup champion from 2011 and 2012, and this season they are in a tight battle in the Western Conference with seven other teams. The prospects of the team making it into the post-season tournament are looking better over the past month as the chemistry between Galaxy stars Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane has really begun to emerge.
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Also on the 2013 roster of the L.A. Galaxy is midfielder Robbie Rogers. Rogers played one season of college soccer at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to the 2005 NCAA Championship.
Shortly thereafter, he began his professional soccer career, which included stints with Orange County Blue Star, Heerenveen, Columbus Crew, Leeds United and Stevenage.
He retired from soccer in January 2013 and came out as gay in the following month. In May, he signed with the L.A. Galaxy, becoming the first openly gay male athlete to join MLS or any of the five major North America professional sports leagues.
Rogers has spent the 2013 season trying to return to form and keep his spot on the 18-man roster in regular season play. He has made nine regular season game appearances and six game starts. Last month, he injured his right hamstring and was out until a 45-minute appearance against Real Madrid on Aug. 1 in the International Champions Cup.
On Aug. 20, Rogers earned a start in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Cartagines where he injured his left hamstring. The extent of the injury is still unclear at this time and it remains to be seen whether Rogers will travel to D.C. with the L.A. Galaxy for the match against United on Sept. 14.
Rogers has been on a media blitz over the past several months appearing on Anderson Cooper 360, Nightline, CNN, MTV and Chelsea Lately among others. Most of the conversations have been about the struggles of being a closeted gay athlete.
So what do Los Angeles sports fans think about their gay soccer player?
One only has to look as far as the L.A. Galaxy blogs to find that the subjects most fans are talking about is their wish for Rogers to get healthy and stay focused on the game rather than his media tour. Truth be told, they basically said the same thing about Beckham during his tenure.
Will there be a “Rogers Effect”?
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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Comings & Goings
Calendar: January 23-29
