Game Changers: The Queer Women Soccer Space

The SPACES app is a new chat platform for queer communities! I spoke with Fati Rouina (she/her), who works for SPACES to develop different Space creations and collaborate with their hosts. 

She started an exciting new Space on the app called Queer Women Soccer. Here’s what you need to know about Fati and her latest endeavor!

The SPACES App

A little more info on the app–SPACES is a group-chat app dedicated to creating a safe and lively community for all of the queer community. The app consists of different SPACES, smaller communities built on unique interests, like sports! The app was released back in March and already has almost 600 Spaces.

Queer Women Soccer

Queer Women Soccer, hosted by Fati, is precisely the Space that it sounds like.

It is a safe place for the queer community to share a passion for soccer. In the Space, you can find news, photos, culture, fashion, chat, and connect about women’s soccer. In Fati’s words, “I like the idea of starting a discussion with strangers around the same passion.” You can also follow upcoming matches, results, and other information. 

Every week Fati and her cohost, Canelle, choose a kit they own and share it on the Space to promote discussion and connection in the group. More than just a place to discuss soccer, the goal is to foster a diverse and inclusive group without fear of judgment or negativity. “SPACES is a celebration for all queer communities, and Queer Women Soccer is part of this celebration,” according to Fati. 

Fati started the Space because of her passion for working for the popularity of women’s soccer culture and fighting against the clichés around women’s soccer. She says the Space pays homage to the queer women and non-binary people who played a crucial role in the game’s growth in the 90s and 2000s. 

Having a Space like this is crucial to the visibility of the queer community in women’s soccer. In recent years, equal pay, investments, and resources have progressed both at the national and local levels. 

Specifically, at the local level, with collectives and teams like  Romance FC in the UK, Dyke Soccer in the US, San Diego Soccer Women, Les Dégommeuses in France, and with Fati. Prior to Queer Women Soccer Space, Fati founded Cacahuètes Sluts, a creative and committed soccer team. Creating empowering, inclusive, and creative soccer communities is something that certainly isn’t new to her. 

Queer Women Soccer is an extension of this. “For me, every action counts, all visibility counts,” says Fati, and this Space is an excellent way for members of the queer community to popularize women’s soccer, have fun, organize matches and game days together, and express queer culture and creativity. 

Fati’s hopes for the SPACES app and her Queer Women Soccer Space don’t end here. She hopes to inspire others to start their own Spaces and for more queer people to consider downloading and using the SPACES app, specifically designed by queer people with queer communities in mind. 

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