May 17 – For the first time in its history, UEFA has launched a dedicated women’s football strategy, a five-year plan that aims to double the number of women and girls playing the sport by 2024.
The idea is to raise the number of women and girls playing throughout UEFA’s 55 member associations to 2.5 million (currently 1.3 million registered players) and significantly boost the profile and value of the women’s Euro championship and Champions League.
“Women’s football is the football of today, it’s not the football of tomorrow,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “It’s UEFA’s duty… to empower the women’s game.
“UEFA will put significant financial investment into the sport, underlining that it dares to aim high and make European football as great as it can be.”
The plan also aims to double the number of female representation on all UEFA bodies, something which has been conspicuous by its absence.
The announcement heralding what will be known as the ‘We Play Strong’ campaign came ahead of the Women’s Champions League final between Lyon and Barcelona in Budapest on Saturday.
Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s head of women’s football, added: “This strategy will champion, innovate and accelerate women’s football for all so that every woman and girl can have a love and affinity for football whether as a player, coach, referee, administrator or fan.
“Every girl, regardless of talent, deserves a place to play football and the possibility to strive for the impossible without limitation. Women’s football is football, and football has a huge ability to impact beyond the field of play and break down cultural and social barriers.”
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