The Uefa Football Board convened at the House of European Football on Monday to engage in in-depth discussions on a variety of topics concerning the current state of women’s football in Europe, its development and future.
The agenda covered key areas aimed at driving the sport forward, including strategic planning, enhancing the competitive landscape, improving player welfare and fostering professional opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials.
The fourth Uefa Football Board meeting was chaired by Uefa deputy general secretary and director of football Giorgio Marchetti and managing director of women’s football Nadine Kessler and attended by Verónica Boquete (Spain), Marissa Callaghan (Northern Ireland), Karen Carney (England), Daphné Corboz (France), Jovana Damnjanović (Serbia), Jonas Eidevall (Sweden), Laura Georges (France), Gemma Grainger (England), Pernille Harder (Denmark), Ada Hegerberg (Norway), Josephine Henning (Germany), Carolina Morace (Italy), Francisco Neto (Portugal), Lotta Schelin (Sweden) and Tessa Wullaert (Belgium).
The first topic of discussion was the forthcoming Uefa Women’s Football Strategy 2024-30, where several elements incorporate feedback received from the Board at last September’s meeting. The strategy’s mission, goals and priorities were outlined. The Board was pleased with the holistic approach, highlighting the importance of sustainably developing the women’s game and the need for football stakeholders to work towards common objectives for player welfare. Improving the standards and competitiveness across domestic leagues, increasing the number of female coaches and professionalising female refereeing were emphasised.
The Board expressed their satisfaction with the new Uefa women’s national team competition system introduced last year, which has accomplished its goals to make national team matches more competitive and meaningful, and increasing commercial and sporting appeal. Uefa’s objectives for Uefa Women’s Euro 2025 were outlined, including a commitment to provide top-class services to players and teams as well as ambitious attendance targets.
The Board was also pleased with the new format of the Uefa Women’s Champions league and the second club competition, both debuting next season, which will further stimulate competitiveness in the domestic leagues and be an additional key driver for participation and development.
The participants received an update on the women’s international match calendar from 2026 onwards and appreciated the improvements made while emphasising the continued importance of balancing player workload with the growth of the game. They also underlined that support structures must continue to be improved to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the players.
The final topics of the meeting related to player health and medical with a particular focus on the meticulous steps being taken by Uefa to study and better understand anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention and menstrual health tracking so that the information can be shared with the wider football community. The discussion also covered the challenges footballers face after they retire from the sport.
Kessler said: “Today's meeting was a fantastic continuation of the progress we began last year, filled with open and positive dialogue that reflects the very nature of women’s football. Many important topics have been on the table and the board members’ expertise and insights have been vital to ensuring that we travel in the right direction and set the stage for even greater successes ahead. Thank you to all the players and coaches.”
Hegerberg, Olympique Lyonnais and Norway forward said: "Players are, and will always be, at the very centre of the game. Women’s football is at a pivotal stage and it is crucial that our voices are heard in shaping the future. We’re committed to pushing for more opportunities, better conditions and ensuring that the next generation have the resources and support they deserve. Together, with the right platform and the right support, we can continue driving the sport forward in a safe and sustainable way."
Eidevall, Arsenal Women FC manager, said: "It's an incredible honour to contribute to shaping the future of women's football alongside such a prestigious group of key leaders and advocates in women’s football through the Uefa Football Board. As a coach, I see firsthand the progress we’ve made, but also the work that still needs to be done to grow the game globally. The Board is an opportunity to bring the players' and coaches’ perspectives into the conversation, ensuring that decisions we make today lay the foundation for future generations of women footballers. It’s about creating pathways, expanding opportunities and continuing to break barriers for the sport we love."
Wullaert, FC Internazionale Milano and Belgium forward, said: “We touched on a lot of important subjects. I am really looking forward to the new Uefa Women’s Champions League format and the second competition that is coming next season. It is good that more clubs will have the opportunity to participate in Europe. And it is good that we discussed life after football, which is often a forgotten subject. It is important for me to be here to get insight into the state our sport and ask questions not only for myself but on behalf of my national team and club. I feel really honoured to be here and to be part of this.”
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