- Uefa promises 1bn euros to Women’s football in Europe
- Aimed at making it the most-played team sport for women for the continent
- Funds earmarked for national team competitions, club competitions and national associations
- Six fully professional leagues supporting 5,000 professional players
Uefa promises 1bn euros to European women’s football
UEFA has unveiled a bold €1 billion (£830 million) investment plan for women’s football over the next six years, aiming to establish it as the most-played team sport for women in Europe. This historic commitment draws from competition revenues and UEFA’s own investments, with funds earmarked for national team competitions, club competitions, and national associations.
Through its initiative, UEFA aims to make Europe “the home of the world’s top players,” with a vision of creating six fully professional leagues and supporting 5,000 professional women players across the continent.
Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s Managing Director of Women’s Football, noted that European women’s football is flourishing: “The sport has reached new heights, attracting a diverse and expanding fan base, alongside partnerships that are committed to its continued growth.”
UEFA’s new six-year strategy, titled ‘Unstoppable,’ arrives as women’s football gains unprecedented financial momentum. Analysts revealed that the Women’s Super League achieved record revenues in the 2022-23 season, while the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand generated £440 million in revenue, further highlighting the sport’s commercial viability.
The investment also includes plans for a secondary women’s European club competition beneath the Champions League, which will follow a knockout format and offer teams eliminated in the early rounds of the Champions League another pathway to compete.
Looking ahead, UEFA is set to stage the 2025 Women’s Euros in Switzerland, marking yet another milestone as they aim to propel women’s football in Europe to new heights.