UEFA has launched a new women’s football strategy – Unstoppable – to continue the game’s incredible growth, with an ambition of making it the most played team sport among women and girls in every European country and increasing the number of fully professional leagues.
Unstoppable, developed in collaboration with football stakeholders across Europe, sets out the strategic priorities for UEFA to achieve a vibrant and sustainable future for the next generation of players, coaches, referees, volunteers and fans. The document, launched today, sets out UEFA’s vision for the game and its desire to build on the success of its previous plan launched in 2019, Time for Action.
The strategy sets out four long-term goals for 2030:
- To make football the most played team sport for women and girls in every European country, through developing football pathways for players, coaches and referees alongside grassroots opportunities
- To make Europe the home of the world’s top players, with six fully professional leagues and 5,000 fully professional players across the continent
- To make football the most sustainable and investable women’s sport, with record-breaking UEFA competitions
- To ensure women’s football is celebrated for its unique values and community, where everyone believes that they can have a place
Over the 2024-30 period, €1 billion of competition revenues and UEFA investment will be committed to the game through senior and youth national team competitions, club competitions, distributions to clubs and national associations, and development activities.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin:
“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:
“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.”
Unstoppable is supported by some of Europe’s most recognisable players and referees who share UEFA’s ambition and vision of the future for women’s football, with Jill Scott (England Women’s EURO winner), Aitana Bonmatí (Ballon d’Or winner 2023 and 2024), Ada Hegerberg (the all-time UWCL top goal scorer), Lauren James (Chelsea and England star), Giulia Gwinn (Bayern Munich and Germany star) and Tess Olofsson (Sweden) all appearing in a supporting film.
The full strategy and supporting film can be found here.
Credit: UEFA
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