Sierra added: “What I was surprised by the most is that all the bad comments were in Spanish. In English, they were all positive.”

While gay athletes have felt increasingly comfortable coming out in American sports leagues over the past decade, and hardly raise an eyebrow on the women’s national teams of many countries, lesbians are often less visible in Mexican society because of the country’s macho culture. Consequently, when they go public with their sexuality, they can face more opposition, said Claudia Pedraza, who specializes in studying gender and sports at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

“For a woman to come out as a lesbian in Mexico is even more complicated because she faces double discrimination,” Pedraza said. “First, because she is a woman. And then, second, because she is assuming a homosexual identity.”

For now, Mayor and Sierra are focusing on the positives, and their careers. Thor-KA is leading the Icelandic League with 10 wins and a draw through 11 games, and nearing its goal of a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Thor-KA’s coach, Halldor Jon Sigurdsson, said the Mexican players brought an innovative approach to the field. He described Sierra as a “machine,” and said Mayor had an “unbelievable football mind.”

“And if Fany is with the person she loves,” he said, using Mayor’s nickname, “she’s obviously going to feel absolutely fantastic.”

Mexico’s federation may have noticed as well. The national team’s new coach, Roberto Medina, has called in both Sierra and Mayor ahead of a friendly match against Sweden on Saturday. They were scheduled to depart Iceland for training camp, together, on Wednesday.