FIFA can ban the OneLove armband, but they can’t stifle queer joy at the Women’s World Cup

This year, LGBTQ+ players at the tournament are arguably more visible than ever. On Rapinoe’s part, she will play for her final World Cup trophy after announcing her retirement, having continued to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights, including in support of trans athletes in sport. “Show me all the trans people who are nefariously taking advantage of being trans in sports,” she recently told TIME. “It’s just not happening.” (Earlier this year, Rapinoe, who is engaged to WNBA legend Sue Bird, also dedicated her TIME ‘Woman of the Year’ to the transgender community.)

Among England’s team, several players have spoken out on the importance of LGBTQ+ representation. Rachel Daly, Bethany England and Jess Carter have all been open about their relationships with other women – with Carter currently in a relationship with Germany’s keeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Although not in this year’s squad, the injured Beth Mead has spoken out about her experiences as a gay player – and is currently dating the Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema, who is also injured – while Demi Stokes became a mum alongside her fiancée Katie last year. In fact, there are so many out players at this year’s tournament comedian Mari Taren jokingly described the act of researching them all as a “full-time job” in a hilarious video.

“Women’s football remains a shining example of how players should use their platforms to make the beautiful game a truly inclusive one.”

Alongside Rapinoe, the tournament will showcase other LGBTQ+ stars of the game, including Australia’s Sam Kerr, one of the world’s best players, who regularly posts loved-up snaps with her partner, Kristie Mewis, herself at the tournament playing for the USA. Brazil’s legendary forward Marta, who is engaged to Orlando Pride teammate Toni Pressley, will play in her sixth World Cup this year. Canada’s Quinn, meanwhile, is believed to be the first-ever out transgender and non-binary player to compete at a World Cup – the midfielder made history in 2021 when they became the first transgender and non-binary Olympic champion. To put things into perspective: there wasn’t a single openly LGBTQ+ player at last year’s Men’s World Cup, held in Qatar, where homosexuality is criminalised.

Among the LGBTQ+ players are, adorably, some mums: Sweden’s forward Lina Hurtig has a daughter with her wife and former teammate Lisa Hurtig, while Spain’s Irene Paredes has a son with her partner Lucía Ybarra, a hockey player.

While the wider game and its governing bodies continue to fail the LGBTQ+ community, women’s football remains a shining example of how players should use their platforms to make the beautiful game a truly inclusive one. And although there hasn’t been a lot of commotion about the OneLove armband being banned at this summer’s tournament, that’s because thankfully, these players know the fight for equality is far bigger than that.

Just as they’ve done in previous tournaments, coaches, players and even pundits at this summer’s Women’s World Cup are continuing to set the bar for LGBTQ+ inclusion in elite sport. Among them are world-class players – from Kerr to Rapinoe – who, time and time again, have boldly spoken up for LGBTQ+ rights and representation at football’s highest level.

Regardless of who wins this year’s tournament, that’s something to be championed.

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