New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson has helped create two milestones at the .

With her 48th-minute goal in the tournament opener against Norway, she led the co-host Football Ferns to their first win in six trips to the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup. SheB次元官网网址檚 also one of at least 95 out members of the LGBTQ+ community competing in this yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament, , a website that covers the LGBTQ+ sports.

The Ferns were greeted with a fan-made sign at their next match in Wellington: B次元官网网址淕ay for soccer, gay for Wilkie,B次元官网网址� it read.

The 95 out participants make up roughly 13% of the 736 total players at the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup, more than doubling the 40 players and coaches Outsports counted in 2019.

The 2023 tournament also is hosting the first openly trans and non-binary player in either a menB次元官网网址檚 or WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup, Quinn of Canada.

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B次元官网网址淟ast World Cup was so big, especially with the visibility of the U.S. womenB次元官网网址檚 national team winning and (Megan Rapinoe) fighting with (Donald) Trump. So I think that was a huge year for LGBTQ+ visibility,B次元官网网址� said Lindsey Freeman, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just the ad hoc, fun culture of womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer that youB次元官网网址檙e seeing in this World Cup,B次元官网网址� said Freeman, who is in New Zealand conducting research on the topic.

Jim Buzinski, co-founder of Outsports, agreed. B次元官网网址淚n the Western world, itB次元官网网址檚 such a non-issue that it really just doesnB次元官网网址檛 get talked about,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd I think thatB次元官网网址檚 in a good way.B次元官网网址�

VISIBILITY

Prior to the start of the tournament, FIFA designated eight socially conscious armbands team captains could wear throughout the WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup. The decision came after to menB次元官网网址檚 teams in Qatar in 2022.

The armbands being used this year include anti-discriminatory sayings and multiple colors, but the rainbow version Germany wanted to use is not allowed. None of the available options explicitly mention LGBTQ+ rights.

The decision has led many players to express their support in more creative ways across Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand midfielder Ali Riley was interviewed on the official WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup broadcast after her teamB次元官网网址檚 upset of Norway. Her painted fingernails, left hand in the colors of the pride flag and right hand as the trans flag, were clearly visible as she held her head and fought back tears.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 such an advocate and sheB次元官网网址檚 definitely someone who uses her platform in such a positive way. We are all so proud of her and the way she represents the LGBTQ+ community,B次元官网网址� teammate CJ Bott said. B次元官网网址淕ood on her. WeB次元官网网址檙e all backing her, and we all back the community as well.B次元官网网址�

The Philippines, making its WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup debut, took home its own historic win over New Zealand 1-0 thanks to the foot of Sarina Bolden. BoldenB次元官网网址檚 Instagram bio reads, B次元官网网址渋 just wanna have fun n b gay.B次元官网网址�

Irish star Katie McCabe wowed fans with a . SheB次元官网网址檚 also made tabloid news for her relationships with other players.

Thembi Kgatlana, who has scored in the tournament for South Africa, has a patch of her hair dyed rainbow colors.

B次元官网网址淢y personality is very big for me, and my hair has become a part of my personality,B次元官网网址� Kgatlana said. B次元官网网址淎nd I did this rainbow because I want to represent all the people that are part of the LGBTQ and cannot talk while in countries where theyB次元官网网址檙e oppressed.B次元官网网址�

FAN EXPERIENCE

Kristen Pariseau and her wife started a U.S. womenB次元官网网址檚 national team supporters group on Facebook ahead of traveling to this yearB次元官网网址檚 WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup. Aside from some hateful users she blocked, itB次元官网网址檚 been B次元官网网址渟uper LGBT friendly.B次元官网网址�

She and her wife did not go to Qatar for the 2022 menB次元官网网址檚 World Cup to avoid referencing each other as friends and receiving questions on their sexuality. In New Zealand, she said sheB次元官网网址檚 met many same-sex couples at games and while traveling around the country.

B次元官网网址淓verywhere you turn, itB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址極h, my wife, my girlfriend.B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 been so welcoming and open,B次元官网网址� Pariseau said. B次元官网网址淚n a way, it is kind of cool to be where thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of other people like you.B次元官网网址�

Kelsie Bozart took her own pride flag armband to the United StatesB次元官网网址� second match in Wellington, along with a pride scarf.

B次元官网网址淚f you look back a couple years, I feel like it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 really talked about or there just wasnB次元官网网址檛 much of a presence,B次元官网网址� Bozart said. B次元官网网址淏ut moving forward I feel like, especially for the U.S., theyB次元官网网址檝e done an amazing job of just incorporating pride and LGBTQ.B次元官网网址�

NOT UNIVERSAL

Though this yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament has highlighted vast gains for the LGBTQ+ community in womenB次元官网网址檚 soccer, advocates feel there is still work to be done.

According to Buzinski and Outsports, there were at the Tokyo Olympics. Women outnumbered men by a 9:1 ratio. There also were at the 2022 menB次元官网网址檚 World Cup.

B次元官网网址淚 think womenB次元官网网址檚 sports have always been open,B次元官网网址� Denmark striker Pernille Harder said, adding that there are many role models for women who want to come out.

Freeman said it would be good to see men feel the same level of comfort.

B次元官网网址淲hat can happen in the womenB次元官网网址檚 game, I would love to spill over to the menB次元官网网址檚 game,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ecause obviously, thereB次元官网网址檚 way more queer players in the menB次元官网网址檚 game and itB次元官网网址檚 just not safe for them to come out.

B次元官网网址淚f you want to say that youB次元官网网址檙e in an inclusive space, you really have to be an inclusive space,B次元官网网址� Freeman added. B次元官网网址淎nd I think that that includes also holding the World Cup in places where itB次元官网网址檚 fine to be a queer person.B次元官网网址�

Max Ralph, The Associated Press

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