Women’s football in Europe is about to become more financially powerful after UEFA have promised earlier today that they will commit one billion euros (£830m) to the sport over the next six years.
The intention is to make it the most played team sport by women in Europe and the European governing body will use money from “competition revenues and UEFA investment” to distribute to national team competitions, club competitions and national associations.
UEFA Managing Director of Women’s football Nadine Kessler was buoyant about the plans saying, “European women’s football has never been in a better place. It has become a sport for the masses, attracting an ever growing and diverse fan base and partners that wholeheartedly contribute to its growth.”
The new six year strategy which is called “Unstoppable” is part of UEFA’s goal to make Europe “the home of the world’s top players” with six fully professional leagues and 5,000 fully professional players across the continent.
Earlier this year in June, analysts reported that the Women’s Super League generated record revenue in the 2022-2023 season. According to analysis from Deloitte , the aggregate revenue of the Women’s Super League clubs went up by 50% to £48m in the 2022-2023 season. That rise came after England won Euro 2022 and the total is predicted to reach £52m for 2023-2024 and £68m in 2024-2025.
Attendances have also increased in England with the Women’s Super League, with 1,923 to 5,616 in 2022-2023 and with clubs increasingly using their main stadiums to host matches the cumulative matchday revenues grew to £7m. The 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which was won by Spain, generated revenue of £440m.
Kessler told BBC World Service earlier this month that the focus has to be on growing the women’s game across Europe in areas where it is less prevalent.
“We cannot just focus on the countries that are already advanced in their development. This strategy will bring much more tailor-made support for those countries that need special help.”
As part of the investment, Uefa plans to introduce a second women’s European club competition to sit beneath the Champions League.
The competition would be a straight knockout format, with teams competing against clubs knocked out in the early rounds of the Champions League.
Euro 2025, organised by UEFA, will be staged in Switzerland. England are the current defending champions. (JC)
