Play Proud 2023

Clubs from five leagues commit to helping make the 2026 Men's World Cup the most inclusive yet

At a critical time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack worldwide, Common Goal is bringing together eight clubs from five leagues spanning Canada and the United States, their supporters’ groups, and local grassroots soccer organisations, to fight discrimination on and off the pitch through Play Proud - football’s leading movement advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion.   

A record number of anti-transgender bills proposed in the US has been set for four consecutive years in a row. As it stands, over 480 discriminatory bills have been introduced across all but three states this year alone, eclipsing 2022’s record by over two-fold. Play Proud is working in regions fighting some of the most discriminatory bills ever filed and in 2026 Men’s World Cup host cities to do the work where it’s needed most, so everyone can find a home in soccer.   

Play Proud, an initiative launched by Common Goal and supported by the movement's impact sponsor adidas, offers a holistic and collective approach to creating inclusive soccer spaces with a focus on under-resourced and under-represented communities. Throughout 2023, the cohort will come together for 100 hours of in-person diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training to help make the 2026 World Cup the most inclusive men’s soccer tournament in history.   

The 2023 Play Proud clubs include Detroit FC (USL Championship), Gotham FC (NWSL), Kansas City Current (NWSL), New Mexico United (USL Championship), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Toronto FC (MLS), Union Omaha (USL League One), and Vancouver FC (CPL).   

The first 50-hour workshop will be hosted by Seattle Sounders FC, MLS’ Inclusion and Impact Award recipient in 2022, starting on April 4th. With pride activations across all eight stadiums in June, the coalition will come together for the final 50-hour workshop in October 2023.   

“We are honored and excited to host one of this year’s Play Proud workshops,” said Seattle Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom.   

“As a club, Sounders FC has long been dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community in meaningful ways, which includes building internal capacity in partnership with experts.   

“As one of the most comprehensive programs dedicated to creating inclusive soccer communities, Common Goal’s Play Proud provides even more of that expert training. We know that sport has the power to affect societal and cultural change and it’s an honor to join this coalition of like-minded organizations as we all work toward the ultimate goal of using our platforms to stand for equality and inclusion.”   

Each club will be joined by a representative from their supporters’ groups and a local grassroots soccer organization to help create an impact across the game. Participating Play Proud 2023 grassroots soccer organizations include Common Goal community members Canada SCORES Vancouver, Football for the World, and South Bronx United who will be joined by Detroit FC Foundation, Global FC, MLSE, RAVE Foundation, and Somos Unidos.  

Play Proud will provide participating clubs and organizations with training, resources, and support to help them create inclusive policies and practices within their organizations. In collaboration with Impact International, Inside Inclusion, Stonewall UK, and HTVB, the workshops will feature discussions and presentations from leading LGBTQ+ athletes and advocates, as well as interactive sessions aimed at promoting inclusive leadership.   

The 2023 club coalition builds off last year's work which included Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union from MLS, Oakland Roots and San Diego Loyal from the USL Championship, Club Tigres from Liga MX, Pacific FC from the CPL, and San Diego Wave and Angel City FC from the NWSL.

The eight clubs in 2022, their supporters’ groups, and grassroots organisations completed 100 hours of DEI training. Common Goal plans to work across every host city and key soccer market by the 2026 Men’s World Cup with the goal of creating safe and inclusive stadiums, enabling access to soccer programming in under-represented communities, and upskilling youth-based coaches in trauma-informed practices.   

“All too often DEI initiatives and solution-based approaches are disconnected and fragmented from the needs of the community,” said Lilli Barrett-O’Keefe, Executive Director of Common Goal USA and Founder of Play Proud   

“Historically we see that professional clubs, fans, brands and youth-centered programming work in isolation. We want to disrupt that pattern. All the key stakeholders across the soccer ecosystem must work together in order for authentic change to happen.”