Spain’s first all-transgender men’s football team, Fenix FC, made their debut in a regional men’s league in Catalonia. Named after the mythical phoenix symbolizing rebirth, the team faced a challenging start, losing their inaugural match 19-0 on September 21.
Despite the lopsided score, the significance of this milestone cannot be overstated. Fenix FC has become the first all-transgender squad to achieve federated status in Europe, competing in the fifth tier of the Catalan football pyramid.
The journey to this point was not without obstacles. Team founder Hugo Martinez, 24, shared his experiences of discrimination that led to the creation of Fenix FC. “I was a boy playing in the girls’ team, but without a changed ID, so I wasn’t yet allowed to play with boys,” Martinez explained, recounting the abuse he faced during his transition.
Inspired by his own struggles, Martinez put out a call online for other transgender men seeking a safe space to play football. The response was enthusiastic, and after three years of preparation, Fenix FC was born.
For team captain Luke Ibanez, 19, the club represents more than just a sports team. “Fenix is a team of trans boys created entirely by trans boys, but I think it’s more than that — a family, a safe space where you can be free and express yourself however you want and how you really feel,” he said.
The formation of Fenix FC comes at a time when Spain is making strides in transgender rights. In 2022, the country passed a pioneering bill designed to simplify the process of changing one’s legal gender identity. However, challenges persist, with data from the Catalan Observatory Against LGBTphobia reporting 302 cases of discrimination or violence against LGBTQ individuals in the region in 2023, a quarter of which targeted transgender targets.
The Catalan Football Association has embraced inclusivity, stating that their men’s leagues have been mixed for the past two seasons, allowing players of any gender to participate regardless of their official identity. Players can also choose to use a name different from their legal one.
