U.S. Soccer has always believed in the power of soccer to unify our nation. We’ve seen it happen before, and during these times, the sport’s impact is needed now more than ever to help inspire and generate change.
As we continue to find ways to take additional actions around important social issues, we have launched U.S. Soccer ‘One Nation’, an ongoing initiative that will highlight inclusion across the sport of soccer in the United States. The main digital hub of One Nation, which is located at ussoccer.com/onenation, will drive awareness and amplify the efforts of the entire U.S. Soccer family – players, coaches, referees, staff, member organizations and fans – in areas such as LGBTQ+ issues, anti-racism and diversity.
As U.S. Soccer has done in the past, we have been celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride during the month of June. One Nation provides us the opportunity to show our commitment to highlighting important topics continuously throughout the entire year.
LGBTQ+ Pride is just the first initiative to be highlighted as part of One Nation. U.S. Soccer will showcase access and inclusion for a number of other groups during the course of the year, including the military, disabled soccer, first responders and more.
During Pride Month, U.S. Soccer is recognizing the LGBTQ+ community with special content, giveaways and more. U.S. Soccer is also once again partnering with the You Can Play project, which works to ensure safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches and fans. Together, U.S. Soccer and You Can Play are hosting a discussion between former Women’s National Team midfielder Lori Lindsey and current WNT defender and 2019 Women’s World Cup champion Tierna Davidson.
Special episodes of The U.S. Soccer Podcast will feature conversations with LGTBQ+ players from the Men’s and Women’s National Teams, including former MNT defender Robbie Rogers. The players will discuss the challenges they have overcome and their efforts to inspire change in the next generation of athletes.
At ussoccer.com/onenation/pride, you’ll find a statement of support for the LGBTQ+ community, written content, photo galleries and downloadable wallpapers.
One Nation will also highlight U.S. Soccer’s important efforts against racism. This month, we repealed our national anthem policy, issued a statement in support of Black Lives Matter and hosted a roundtable on The U.S. Soccer Podcast featuring Black players from the Men’s and Women’s National Teams. It’s a small start, and we promise to do more to support the fight against racial injustice.
At U.S. Soccer, we want to foster a community of belonging that is welcoming and supportive to all. We’re committed to addressing important social issues and taking the necessary steps to improve the lives of everyone in our soccer family.