CHICAGO (July 1, 2021) — U.S. Soccer helped the You Can Play Project raise a record-breaking $85,000 via the auction of the Women’s and Men’s National Team game-issued Pride Month jerseys in June.
The amount raised during the sports memorabilia auction is the largest ever for You Can Play and will go towards making sport safe and inclusive for LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, referees and fans. You Can Play is an organization dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, coaches, and fans without regard for sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
“We are thrilled about this year's pride auction for You Can Play,” said Kurt Weaver, You Can Play Project Executive Director. “We set new records with the generosity of our community, and are deeply thankful to our partners who provided items and the donors who bid. U.S. Soccer really pushed us to new record heights with the addition of their National Team pride jerseys to this year's auction. Their commitment to inclusion in soccer and our partnership for education and outreach will make an impact for years to come.”
The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams wore pride-inspired rainbow numbers on their uniforms during a number of their June friendly matches. The USMNT donned the special jerseys on June 9 vs. Costa Rica in Sandy, Utah, while the USWNT suited up in the uniforms for the first two games of its Summer Series against Portugal on June 10 and Jamaica on June 13.
This year marked the third time that the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams have worn rainbow-numbered jerseys and donated money to You Can Play with the auction of game-issued uniforms. A portion of proceeds from special pride-inspired rainbow merchandise available in the U.S. Soccer Store was also donated to You Can Play.