Netflix to stream Women's World Cup—these queer soccer players paved the way

These LGBTQ+ players revolutionized the U.S. Women's Soccer Team!

The FIFA Women's World Cup, the biggest event in women's soccer around the world, is coming to Netflix!

In what's being called a "landmark announcement for women's football," FIFA and Netflix have reached a new deal giving the streaming service exclusive U.S. rights to air the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, as reported by Variety.

According to the deal, Netflix will deliver "unparalleled access" to each game and will have "immersive coverage" that includes in-studio shows. The 2027 Women's World Cup will take place in Brazil from June 24 through July 25. For the time being, the location and exact dates for the 2031 Women's World Cup have yet to be announced.

Broadcasting rights for this massive event featuring female athletes had previously been split between Fox Sports and Telemundo. And yet, the undeniable increase in popularity for women's soccer in the U.S. and around the world prompted a data-driven company like Netflix to invest in the tournament — proving not only how far the sport has come, but how much farther it can go, too.

The U.S. National Team will be competing in the 2027 World Cup, and will certainly return for the next tournament held in 2031. If you aren't familiar, the United States has the most successful women's soccer team around the globe, having won four FIFA Women's World Cup titles and five Olympic gold medals since the events started in the 1990s.

Historically, the women's soccer team in the U.S. has also featured a visible, proud, and talented group of queer athletes. Below, we spotlight 14 LGBTQ+ players who played a huge role in turning women's soccer into the phenomenon that it is today.

1. Saskia Webber (years active: 1992-2000)

Saskia Webber was a goalkeeper for the U.S. National Team throughout the 1990s and earned a bronze medal at the 1995 World Cup. She was also a part of the gold medal-winning 1996 Atlanta Olympics team, as well as the squad who won the 1999 Women's World Cup.

2. Abby Wambach (years active: 2001-2015)

Scoring 184 goals in 255 international appearances Abby Wambach has scored the most goals of any U.S. player, as well as the second most goals in history (male or female!).

Wambach is globally recognized as one of the true legends in women's soccer. She's played in four World Cups and two Olympics, going on to win two Olympic gold medals, one World Cup trophy, one runner-up placement at the World Cup, and two World Cup bronzes over time.

3. Joanna Lohman (years active: 2001-2007)

Joanna Lohman was a midfielder and defender who competed for the U.S. Women's National Team and left her mark in the history of the sport.

4. Ali Krieger (years active: 2005-2019)

Defender Ali Krieger has made 108 appearances for the U.S. National Team. She was a key player in the team's 2011 second-place finish, as well as the team's victory in the 2015 Women's World Cup. She was also a member of the 2019 World Cup team that brought home the top prize.

Krieger was married to fellow National Team member Ashlyn Harris for two years, but the couple divorced in recent years.

5. Lori Lindsey (years active: 2005-2013)

Lori Lindsey, who currently works as a soccer commentator, was an alternate on the gold medal-winning U.S. National Team at the 2012 Olympics. She also played competed in the 2011 Women's World Cup team that finished as runners-up.

6. Natasha Kai (years active: 2006-2009)

Born in Hawaii, Natasha Kai won a gold medal as a part of the U.S. National Team in 2008 and finished in third at the 2007 Women's World Cup.

7. Megan Rapinoe (years active: 2006-2023)

Forward Megan Rapinoe is one of the most iconic players in U.S. Women's Soccer history. Since 2006, she's scored 63 goals and had 73 assists (tied for third in most in team history) throughout 203 appearances for the U.S. National Team.

Rapinoe has two World Cup titles (and a second place finish). She also has an Olympic gold medal, as well as a bronze. In 2019, she was awarded the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards at the Women's World Cup, was named "The Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year," won the Ballon d'Or, and was named the 2019 Sportsperson of the Year on Sports Illustrated.

Since 2016, Rapinoe has been dating WNBA star Sue Bird.

8. Ashlyn Harris (years active: 2009-2020)

As a goalkeeper, Ashlyn Harris competed with the 2015 and 2019 World Cup teams, taking home a trophy both times. For most of her career in the U.S. National Team, Harris has been a backup — with 22 appearances and six clean sheets.

9. Christen Press (years active: 2009-TBD)

Christen Press currently plays forward for Angel City FC of the NWSL and is one of the best scorers in history with 64 goals in 155 caps (ninth best of all time), as well as 43 assists.

Press has earned two World Cup titles (2015, 2019), plus an Olympic bronze medal (2020). As of this writing, she is dating her former teammate, Tobin Heath.

10. Kelley O'Hara (years active: 2010-2023)

Kelley O'Hara was a defender who mostly played for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL and made her U.S. National team debut in 2010. Since then, she's had 160 appearances with the team. O'Hara has an Olympic gold medal from 2012, a bronze from 2020. Furthermore, she's won two World Cup tournaments (2015 and 2019), which followed her original World Cup ending in second place (2011).

Overall, she's had 21 assists for the U.S. Women's National Team.

11. Tobin Heath (years active: 2010-TBD)

Tobin Heath is one of the best players in recent women's soccer history. She's made 181 appearances for the National Team, scored 36 goals and had 42 assists. Heath has two Olympic golds and one bronze. She also won two World Cups and finished with the team as runner-up once.

12. Kristie Mewis (years active: 2013-TBD)

Midfielder Kristie Mewis currently plays for West Ham United FC in England and has made 53 appearances with the U.S. National Team since 2013. She has scored seven goals and had four assists in her appearances. Namely, she was a member of the 2023 Women's World Cup team and the 2020 Olympic team that earned a bronze medal.

Mewis and Australian soccer star Sam Kerr have been in a relationship since 2021 and are expecting their first child.

13. Tierna Davidson (years active: 2018-TBD)

The NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL has featured Tierna Davidson playing as a defender. When she was named to her first Women's World Cup roster in 2019, she became the youngest member of the team at just 20 years old. Davidson was also on the roster for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, respectively winning a gold medal and a bronze medal during those Games.

14. Adrianna Franch (years active: 2019-TBD)

Adrianna Franch, a goalkeeper, is the latest out athlete to join the U.S. National Team. She started playing for the team in 2019 and has so far made 10 appearances. She was also on the roster for the 2019 Women's World Cup, but didn't get to play in the tournament.