October 31 – UEFA has launched its latest women’s football strategy, ‘Unstoppable’, with a bold ambition and €1 billion budget to make football the most-played team sport among women and girls across Europe.
UEFA also wants to expand the number of fully professional leagues within its member associations.
The project, developed in collaboration with key football stakeholders and for the 2024-203 cycle, outlines UEFA’s strategic vision for creating a vibrant, sustainable future for upcoming generations of players, coaches, referees, volunteers, and fans. This new initiative builds on UEFA’s previous 2019 ‘Time for Action’ plan.
The strategy targets a number of primary goals for 2030, the first of which is to establish football as the top team sport for women and girls in every European country by developing comprehensive pathways for players, coaches, and referees, alongside grassroots initiatives.
UEFA is also looking to position Europe as the hub for the world’s elite players, with aims for six fully professional leagues and 5,000 professional players continent-wide.
The ‘Unstoppable’ strategy also aims to drive women’s football towards being a ‘sustainable and investable’ sport, with one eye on breaking UEFA attendance records set in recent seasons.
The €1 billion earmarked for the 2024-30 cycle will come from competition revenues and direct funding into the women’s game, and will targeted at supporting senior and youth national team competitions, club tournaments, distributions to clubs and national associations, and various other development initiatives.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “Unstoppable is our road map to lay the groundwork for a sustainable future, unlocking the full potential of women’s football. As we enter this exciting new era, we must continue with the same passion that has driven us this far. Our dedication to the cause remains as strong as ever. Our mission is simple – to help women’s football gain a prominent place in the European sporting community.”
Nadine Kessler, UEFA managing director of women’s football, added: “European women’s football has never been in a better place. National teams and clubs are excelling thanks to enormous investments, improved competition structures and thousands of emerging professional playing opportunities.
“Women’s football in Europe has become a sport for the masses, attracting an ever-growing and diverse fan base, and partners that wholeheartedly contribute to its growth. It is our promise to keep investing and collectively lead the game forward, with all European national associations, leagues, clubs, players, fans and partners part of our journey – because women’s football is Unstoppable.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734914047labto1734914047ofdlr1734914047owedi1734914047sni@g1734914047niwe.1734914047yrrah1734914047