Uefa has announced a historic €1 billion (£830 million) investment in women’s football over the next six years, aiming to make it the most popular team sport among women across Europe.
This significant funding will be allocated from “competition revenues and Uefa investment” and will support national team and club competitions, as well as national associations.
The new six-year strategy, titled ‘Unstoppable,’ will help establish Europe as “the home of the world’s top players,” with Uefa aspiring to see six fully professional leagues and 5,000 professional women players across the continent by 2029.
“European women’s football has never been in a better place,” said Nadine Kessler, Uefa’s Managing Director of Women’s Football.
She praised the sport’s rapid expansion, stating it has “become a sport for the masses, attracting an ever-growing and diverse fan base” alongside partners keen to foster its development.
Women’s football has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with the 2022-23 Women’s Super League achieving record-breaking revenue.
The recent Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand and won by Spain, generated £440 million in revenue, showcasing the increasing financial power of women’s football.
As part of the investment, Uefa will introduce a second European club competition for women, designed to complement the Champions League.
This new tournament, organised in a knockout format, will feature teams eliminated in the early rounds of the Champions League, adding depth to Europe’s club football structure.
In another major event for women’s football, Switzerland will host Euro 2025, further strengthening Uefa’s commitment to advancing the game.
With this substantial investment, Uefa’s vision is to elevate European women’s football to new heights and solidify Europe’s position as the global leader in the sport.
