Eight European countries to participate in diversity campaign during Qatar World Cup

By Issy Ronald, CNN

Updated 1519 GMT (2319 HKT) September 21, 2022

The OneLove captain armbands have been worn by the captains of several Dutch teams, both at the elite and grassroots level.

(CNN)Ten European football teams — the Netherlands, England, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales — will participate in a season-long «OneLove» campaign promoting inclusion and opposing discrimination.

Every country except Sweden and Norway has qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and each captain of these eight nations will wear a distinctive OneLove armband — which features a heart containing colors from all backgrounds — during the tournament.The Netherlands FA, which is spearheading the campaign, chose the colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities; the armband will be worn in Qatar where same-sex relationships are a criminal offense. Sweden and Norway will participate in the initiative during the upcoming Nations League matches, while England will also wear black armbands during both its UEFA Nations League matches to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.«This is an important message which suits the game of football: on the field everybody is equal and this should be the case in every place in society. With the OneLove band we express this message,» said Virgil van Dijk, the Netherlands captain. Read More«On behalf of the Dutch team I have been wearing this band for quite a while now. It is good to see that other countries are joining this initiative.» England captain Harry Kane wearing the OneLove armband.OneLove was founded in the Netherlands in 2020 to emphasize that all football fans have at least one thing in common — their love of football — and to