Latin America hosts gay soccer cup for first time

Latin America will host the gay soccer world cup for the first time in the tournament's 16-year history when the event kicks off this weekend in Buenos Aires.

While some Latin American gay football teams have struggled to get official sponsorship, Argentina's official soccer body, the Argentine Soccer Association, is supporting the annual event and providing facilities for the games.

Twenty-eight teams, many representing cities in Europe, the United States, Australia and Latin America, as opposed to countries, will play in the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association's competition.

Buenos Aires is one of the most gay-friendly cities in traditionally macho Latin America. It has become a gay tourism magnet and has also legalised gay civil unions.

Previous tournaments have been hosted by Boston, San Francisco, Copenhagen, Chicago, Sydney, Amsterdam and London.