The US makes a statement at the World Cup in Qatar by redesigning its crest in rainbow colors to show its solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community
The United States men’s national team made a big mark at the World Cup in Qatar by redesigning their crest with the rainbow flag to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
The tournament, which begins on Sunday and sees the United States play their opener against Wales on Monday, has been controversial in its design given Qatar’s human rights record and attitude towards homosexuality.
Earlier this month, a Qatari World Cup ambassador told a German TV station that homosexuality was “damaging to the spirit” and that it remained illegal to be gay in the conservative Muslim country.
However, the USMNT appears to have taken a stand immediately upon arrival in Doha by changing the usual red stripes on their coat of arms to a rainbow.
Pictures from Al-Gharrafa SC stadium in Ar-Rayyan, where the US team trained on Monday, showed a huge US coat of arms on the wall next to the slogan “One Nation”.
The US national team crest was changed from its usual red to rainbow colors this week
Before the change, the stripes in the flag were all red – now they are rainbow colors
In recent weeks and months, many players have raised concerns about the rights of fans traveling to the event, particularly LGBT+ people and women, who are discriminated against by rights groups under Qatari law.
Qatar is the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, but the small nation has come under pressure in recent years over its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws.
The country’s human rights record has prompted calls for teams and officials to boycott the November 20-December 18 tournament.
The US national team arrived at their base in Doha late last week, with some players joining over the weekend after their final club games.
Also among the stragglers was Christian Pulisic, who played for Chelsea in Newcastle on Saturday night before leaving for the tournament.
Gregg Berhalter’s side take on Wales in the opening Group B game before big clashes against England and then Iran in the battle to qualify for the knockout rounds.
The new crest was seen ahead of coach Gregg Berhalter’s first press conference in Qatar
Berhalter spoke before the long-awaited tournament, which begins on Sunday morning
Christian Pulisic trained with his teammates on Monday after arriving for the World Cup