Women's football, both recently and historically, has made tolerance, community and acceptance a vital part of its identity

Alternative models like open categories or skill-based divisions have been proposed but face logistical hurdles. In the U.S., the NCAA allows trans women to compete after a year of hormone therapy, though state-level bans are rising. Professional leagues like the NWSL may soon face pressure to clarify their stance.

Transgender women are threatening to defy the Football Association's ban on those born male playing in women's football in England. The rule change, set to come into force on June 1, follows last month's Supreme Court ruling on single-sex spaces.