UEFA pledges to spend $1 billion on women’s soccer to grow the game in Europe
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati, receives the 2024 Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 68th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michel Euler]
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has pledged to steer 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) toward all levels of women’s soccer over the next six years as part of a comprehensive strategy to grow the game in Europe. UEFA’s goal is to make “football the most-played team sport for women and girls in every European country.” It also aims to double the number of fully professional national leagues to six and raise the number of professional players from 3,000 to 5,000. UEFA’s director of women’s soccer Nadine Kessler acknowledges there are “persistent challenges and obstacles to overcome” in getting more girls and women into the game.
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Wales' Ceri Holland, center, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game against Slovakia during the second leg of a Euro 2025 qualifying playoff soccer match, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Nick Potts