FIFA has introduced a selection of eight different armbands with social causes for teams to wear at the women’s World Cup.
This move by the global football governing body aims to prevent a repeat of the controversy that arose during the men’s World Cup last year.
During the men’s tournament, captains from several European countries, including England and Germany, had planned to wear a rainbow-colored “OneLove” armband in support of LGBTQ rights in Qatar.
However, they abandoned their plans following the threat of sporting sanctions just days before the tournament commenced.
The armband was widely seen as a symbolic protest against Qatar’s laws, as homosexuality is considered illegal in the country. To avoid a similar situation in the women’s World Cup, FIFA has provided a range of armbands addressing various social causes.
The “unite for inclusion” armband for the women’s World Cup is similar in style to the one outlawed with the words alongside a heart shape in rainbow colours.
Other causes highlighted include gender equality, ending violence against women, hunger and the rights of indigenous people.
Captains will be able to wear a different armband for each match corresponding to the cause being promoted or support one cause for the entire tournament.
“Football unites the world and our global events, such as the Fifa Women’s World Cup, have a unique power to bring people together and provide joy, excitement and passion,” said Fifa President Gianni Infantino
“After some very open talks with stakeholders, including member associations and players, we have decided to highlight a series of social causes – from inclusion to gender equality, from peace to ending hunger, from education to tackling domestic violence – during all 64 matches at the Fifa Women’s World Cup.”
The women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand, begins on July 20.