Fifa 2023 Women's World Cup: 'Good, queer joy' on and off the pitch

Immediately after winning the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup game against the Netherlands, now-retired champion Megan Rapinoe ran towards the sidelines and kissed her long-time girlfriend, WNBA star Sue Bird. The moment was seen around the world – and it took the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community to a new level.

Rapinoe is not the first openly gay football player – that was Lily Parr in the 1920s – and more than 96 athletes in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup are out today. Experts and viewers alike say the door has increasingly swung open for LGBTQ+ athletes to express their true selves.

They are eagerly walking through it. This year, the competition has become a display of inclusivity and representation.

TikTok influencer Jackie J (@jcubehax) refers to this series as “good, queer joy”. Throughout the Women’s World Cup, Jackie J has posted videos of the best moments of the games and sideline romances, including a dramatic montage of the controversies, plays and relationships in the Spain v Netherlands knock-out round; and a heart-warming proposal to Australia’s Emily van Egmond by girlfriend Kat Thompson after a 4-0 win against Canada.