FIFA supports LGBTQ+ football community at 2024 IGLFA World Cup in Argentina

With your support from the XXV. FIFA reaffirmed its commitment to the LGBTQ+ football community at the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

FIFA provided referees with equipment such as match balls, jerseys for substitutes, captain’s armbands and yellow and red cards, and welcomed the teams with a welcome message as part of their support.

Pavel Klymenko, FIFA Ambassador for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination, was also on site at the tournament, which was played in a seven-on-seven format with 36 men’s and eleven women’s teams. It was originally sponsored by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and organized by Argentina’s first diverse football team (Los Dogos).

“As the President and Founder of the IGLFA, I would like to thank FIFA, the AFA and Los Dogos for supporting and hosting the teams that came from all over the world as ambassadors of LGBTQ + sports and through the XXV. The IGLFA World Cup was enjoyed by the hospitality and culture of the Argentine people,” said John Natale.

“This competition has contributed greatly to social change in Argentina. We wanted to hold the tournament here to draw attention to discrimination against the LGBTQ + community, especially in football,” emphasized Claudio Blanco, coordinator of Los Dogos and organizer of the tournament, which took place between November 3 and 9 in the Argentine capital.. “We hope to make further progress in our country with continued cooperation with the AFA.”

The No Discrimination campaign, which FIFA is implementing in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is raising public awareness to prevent discrimination from football. The campaign was seen at every game at the AFA’s Lionel Andrés Messi training facility and at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where Argentinos Juniors play their home games.

In addition to this support, FIFA has concluded a funding agreement with the IGLFA. With the contract, which will last between October 2024 and December 2026, FIFA is reinforcing its support for the tournament and the LGBTQ+ football community.