Off‑Pitch Spotlight: LGBTQ+ Stars Brighten Sweden's Euro 2025 Campaign

In Switzerland, beyond the roar of the crowd and rivalries on the pitch, Sweden's national women's football team is making waves off-field through a powerful display of LGBTQ+ pride and representation. From seasoned defenders to emerging midfield talents, the squad features multiple openly LGBTQ+ players—each contributing to a strong team culture rooted in authenticity, visibility, and equality as Sweden competes at UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

A Squad Rich in Representation and Talent

Sweden has brought a notable group of openly LGBTQ+ players to Euro 2025, including:

• Filippa Angeldahl, a dynamic midfielder at Real Madrid and setter of Sweden's first goal vs. Denmark in a 1–0 opening win on July 4 in Geneva
• Hanna Bennison, a creative force for Sweden and partner of Celtic manager Elena Sadiku
• Nathalie Björn, a reliable Chelsea defender with 71 caps and six international goals
• Magdalena Eriksson, Sweden's captain and Bayern Munich stalwart, engaged to Pernille Harder since July 2024
• Alongside Jennifer Falk, Lina Hurtig, Linda Sembrant, Julia Zigiotti Olme, among others

Out of 368 players at the tournament, over 78 (more than 21%) are openly LGBTQ+, making this edition a record-breaking statement for queer visibility in elite women's football.

Timeline & Tournament Context

• July 4: Sweden edged past Denmark 1–0, with Angeldahl's midfield brilliance and Asllani's century-cap leadership standing out
• July 8: Sweden comfortably dispatched Poland 3–0, showcasing aerial power. Angeldahl and Björn were instrumental in midfield and defense
• July 12: A commanding 4–1 victory over Germany confirmed Sweden atop Group C with an unbeaten record. The team now eyes a quarter-final clash with Group D's runner-up, potentially England

Player Profiles & Analysis

Filippa Angeldahl (27, Real Madrid) delivered creative control and netted the opener vs. Denmark, her well-executed one-two with Asllani proving decisive. Her midfield consistency adds depth and flair to Sweden's engine room.

Hanna Bennison (22, Rosengård talent): A UEFA and NXGN award winner, Bennison provides youthful energy, tracking and passing alongside her more seasoned peers.

Nathalie Björn (Chelsea defender): With 71 appearances, Björn offers defensive resilience and occasional goal threats—key in shutting down opposing attacks.

Magdalena Eriksson: A leader with 122 national caps, decorated at club level, and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights alongside partner Harder. Their presence symbolizes unity and progress, especially visible in their engagement and advocacy efforts.

Impact Beyond Football

Sweden's visible LGBTQ+ stars underscore football's role as a platform for social change. Eriksson and Harder's "viral kiss" at the 2019 Women's World Cup remains iconic, and both continue to champion the Common Goal initiative and Play Proud campaigns. Their openness sends a powerful message—pride and performance go hand in hand.

Quotes & Official Commentary

Filippa Angeldahl, reflecting on her opener vs. Denmark:

"Joy and relief … it was a wonderful feeling to score that first goal"

The Swedish squad, led by coach Peter Gerhardsson, aims to "go better than Euro 2022," pursuing a first European trophy in 41 years.

Implications & Looking Forward

Sweden's approach signals progress on two fronts: serious tournament contenders with a pending quarter-final tie, and a visible, inclusive team environment. Their representation is part of a broader movement: this tournament continues a trend—women's football has 2x more out LGBTQ+ athletes than the 2022 Europeans, and exceeds world events like men's tournaments.

As they prepare for the next rounds, Sweden's squad shows that pride isn't just an off-pitch sentiment—it's a unifying strength in competition.

Off-Pitch Spotlight: LGBTQ+ stjärnor lyser upp Sveriges EM 2025-kampanj

I Schweiz, bortom publikens vrål och rivalitet på planen, skapar Sveriges damlandslag vågor utanför planen genom en kraftfull uppvisning av LGBTQ+-stolthet och representation. Från erfarna försvarare till framväxande mittfältstalanger innehåller truppen flera öppet LGBTQ+-spelare—var och en bidrar till en stark lagkultur rotad i autenticitet, synlighet och jämlikhet när Sverige tävlar i UEFA Women's Euro 2025.

En trupp rik på representation och talang

Sverige har tagit med sig en anmärkningsvärd grupp öppet LGBTQ+-spelare till EM 2025, inklusive:

• Filippa Angeldahl, dynamisk mittfältare i Real Madrid
• Hanna Bennison, kreativ kraft för Sverige
• Nathalie Björn, pålitlig Chelsea-försvarare
• Magdalena Eriksson, Sveriges kapten och Bayern München-stalwart

Fans kommentarer

1. "Sveriges lag visar att fotboll är för alla! 🌈⚽"
2. "Stolt över våra spelare som står upp för jämlikhet!"
3. "Representation är viktigt i sporten, Sverige leder vägen!"
4. "Hoppas fler lag följer Sveriges exempel!"
5. "LGBTQ+-synlighet i fotboll gör skillnad! 🏳️‍🌈"

Sökord / Nyckelord

• Sverige EM 2025 LGBTQ+
• Damfotboll representation
• LGBTQ+ fotbollsspelare
• Sveriges landslag
• EM 2025 turnering
• Damfotboll inkludering
• Svenska fotbollsstjärnor
• LGBTQ+ synlighet sport
• EM 2025 Sverige trupp
• Damfotboll jämlikhet