Wednesday 01 June 2022, 19:00

FIFA celebrates Pride Month

  • Rainbow flag flying at FIFA headquarters in Zurich during June 2022

  • FIFA corporate social media accounts include rainbow branding for Pride Month

  • FIFA is implementing a wide set of measures to ensure the FIFA World Cup is welcoming and inclusive

Every year, Pride Month during June is a celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of current issues. This year, FIFA will deliver the greatest celebration of football the world has ever seen – and the first global gathering of sports fans since the pandemic.

FIFA celebrate the first day of Pride Month at the Home of FIFA

Just as importantly, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be a celebration of unity and diversity – a joining of people from all walks of life – regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression – everybody will be welcome. In order to ensure that all necessary legal protections are in place and will be enforced, FIFA has been: • Training all staff involved in the competition, including public and private security forces, on how to accomplish their tasks in a non-discriminatory manner • Insisting hotels and other contractors involved in welcoming LGBTQIA+ fans to Qatar to do so in a manner that respects the rights and privacy of everyone • Implementing systems to identify and address instances of homo-, bi- and transphobia and other discriminatory practices inside and outside the stadiums, and • Operating a grievance mechanism through which concerns can be reported to FIFA and addressed by the competent teams. These are just some of the measures taken with the aim of ensuring a welcoming and inclusive tournament for all fans, and the organisation maintains a constant and open dialogue with renowned LGBTQIA+ groups around the world.

In 2021, the rainbow flag was flown at FIFA HQ for the first time ever in its 117-year history – a small but incredibly symbolic and proud moment for many in the game, including LGBTQIA+ staff, families and allies working at FIFA. This June, as well as raising the flag once again at FIFA’s headquarters, and changing the profile image of its corporate social media accounts, the FIFA LGBTQIA+ Staff Network has launched. The goal of the network is to raise awareness, eliminate misconceptions and help drive change within the organisation through social involvement, community support, and advocacy. It will also raise awareness of the challenges that LGBTQIA+ staff face and work with people at all levels of the organisation to ensure FIFA is a safe and inclusive workplace; thereby sending a global message of equality, inclusivity and acceptance.