After “Time for Action”, the development plan for women’s football launched in 2019 by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), it is the turn of a new strategy, called “Imparable” (“Unstoppable”).. This program, announced by the European body on Wednesday, October 30, is the second aimed at female soccer players. It foresees an investment of one billion euros in six years, that is, until 2030, with a view to “support growth” women’s soccer and “increase the number of fully professional championships”.
In a statement, the European organization identifies training needs “Quality players, coaches and referees in sufficient numbers”professionalization of leagues and commercial development of competitions. Objective set by UEFA for 2030: six professional championships and 5,000 professional players on the continent, compared to four championships (England, Spain, Italy and France) and 3,049 players to date.
New Champions League format for 2025
Football’s governing body in Europe also aims to increase the power of a “supportive culture”For “translate attendance and audience peaks into higher numbers throughout the season”. Translation: strive to fill stadiums more regularly.
The sum invested by UEFA will come from “contest recipes” AND of UEFA’s own funds, and will be used to “Women’s football initiatives”to support the projects of national federations and strive to make certain competitions more attractive.
Thus, starting next year a new formula for the women’s Champions League will see the light of day, with an 18-team mini-championship that will replace the group stage, like the new format of the men’s Champions League. And as in the men’s competitions, where the Champions League has little sisters, the Europa League and the Conference League, “a second women’s interclub competition” It will also be released next year, just after the Women’s Euro Cup in Switzerland from July 2 to 27, 2025.
