Rainbow-themed badge adorns USMNT training camp in Qatar
the USMNT The World Cup team is showing their support for the LGBTQ community through a rainbow theme team logo inside their training facilities and media workroom.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar which hosts the tournament starting on Sunday. The design features seven vertical rainbow-colored stripes below ‘USA’ in dark blue lettering and is part of the ‘Be The Change’ initiative the team adopted in 2020 with the goal of inspiring action on social justice issues.
“When we are on the world stage and when we are in a place like Qatar, It is important to raise awareness about these issues. and that’s what ‘Be the Change’ is all about,” USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said at a news conference Monday. “It’s not just in America that we want to draw attention to social issues, but also in abroad. We recognize that Qatar has come a long way and there has been a lot of progress, but there is still work to be done.”
Organizers of the World Cup, which is the first to be held in a Middle Eastern nation, say that all the world, regardless of sexual orientation or backgroundd, is welcome, while warning against public displays of affection.
Footballers have raised concerns about the rights of fans traveling to the event, especially LGBTQ people and womenwho rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against. “We are a group that believes in inclusion and we’ll continue to project that message into the future,” the US goalkeeper said. Sean Johnson. “We’ve had conversations and continue to have discussions as we’ve gone through the games. We’ve leaned on the message of ‘Be the change.’ That’s something we’ve been proud of and continue to work on, to be impactful with ourselves, our our presence and our platform, and we will continue to be here in Qatar.”
the rainbow Badge, that will not be worn by the team during World Cup matches, has been routinely displayed by US Soccer no matter what the occasion as a way to promote a spirit of inclusion. “Our rainbow badge plays an important and ongoing role in the identity of US Soccer.spokesman Neil Buethe said in an email to Reuters. “As part of our approach to any match or event, we included the rainbow brand to support and embrace the LGBTQ community, as well as to promote a spirit of inclusion and welcome to all fans around the world. As a result, the locations we will manage and operate at the World Cup, such as the team hotel, media areas and parties, will feature the traditional and rainbow branding of US Soccer.”
