Women’s World Cup gay players feature image photos: SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images // Erin Chang/ISI Photos/Getty Images // James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is finally here! It kicks off on July 20th with co-hosts Australia (against Ireland) and New Zealand (against Norway)! And you, of course, are wondering if there are any Women’s World Cup gay players. Friends, yes! In fact, this just might be the most openly queer sporting event in history — which is saying something, as you know, if you’ve been following our WNBA coverage this year.
And not just players; there are so many LGBTQ storylines to follow. It’s Megan Rapinoe’s (United States) final World Cup. It’s 37-year-old Marta’s (Brazil) sixth World Cup, and her last, and she continues to recover from an ACL tear she suffered in a NWSL Challenge Cup match. After becoming the first first Australian player to score a hat trick at a World Cup tournament in 2019, and becoming a household name among soccer fans and queer humans, Sam Kerr is looking to lead the co-host Matildas to a World Cup title. Canada, which boasts five queer players and coaches, is in an equal pay fight with its governing body, much like the one the USWNT battled for years. Also, Matilda Sam Kerr and USWNT star Kristie Mewis are probably the most famous couple of this World Cup, thanks in part to THEY’RE LESBIANS, STACEY.
The 2023 World Cup goes from July 20th through August 20th. It’ll be held in ten stadiums and nine cities, split almost evenly between Australia and New Zealand. The time difference is mind-bending: From the US east coast, Melbourne is 14 hours ahead and Auckland is 16 hours ahead. From the US west coast, Melbourne is 17 hours ahead and Auckland is 19 hours ahead, so: basically fully a whole day the future. In the United States, the World Cup will air on FOX, FS1, FOXSports dot com, and the FOX Sports App.
And now, onto the Women’s World Cup gay players! They’re listed below, sorted first by their World Cup Group and then by their country. As always, if we’ve missed anyone, please let us know in the comments!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtZSbVAKwBE/
Photo by Matthew Lewis – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuKsf6WLbdZ/
Photo by Cameron Spencer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
https://www.instagram.com/p/CgU5MChLEAQ/
No gays we know (yet?): Nigeria
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLCuJlEJnr3/
No gays we know (yet?): Zambia, Japan
No gays we know (yet?): Haiti, China PR
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cen_FO1oE60/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO4n_8TJ7Nu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmwRUaiMI0K/
No gays we know (yet?): Vietnam
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-ZSXCOmKL/
No gays we know (yet?): Panama
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgw7mTsICLM/?img_index=2
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgjnf2RDpQ5/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsABPUEtzHC/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctb-59CsHMb/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cslo2rHsMhJ/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmCTye6rtza/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
No gays we know (yet?): South Korea