FIFA targets 2x growth in women’s game
FIFA has launched its first-ever global strategy for women’s football, seeking to double the size of the global women’s game by 2026.
Eight-year targets include doubling the number of female players to 60 million as well as doubling the number of member associations with organised youth leagues.
By 2022, football’s global governing body also aims for 100% of its 211 member associations (MAs) to have developed comprehensive women’s football strategies of their own.
The ‘FIFA Women’s Football Strategy’ outlines how the Zurich-based body will work with confederations and MAs, clubs and players, the media, fans and other stakeholders to realise the full potential that exists within the women’s game.
In addition to growing participation, objectives include enhancing the commercial value and building the foundations of women’s football.
FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura – who became the first woman to be appointed to the role in 2016 – commented on the launch of the document, saying: “The women’s game is a top priority for FIFA and via our new strategy we will work hand-in-hand with our 211 member associations around the world to increase grassroots participation, enhance the commercial value of the women’s game and strengthen the structures surrounding women’s football to ensure that everything we do is sustainable and has strong results.
“Most importantly it will make football more accessible to girls and women and encourage female empowerment, a subject of great importance, now more than ever before.”
As part of its commitment to supporting and furthering the women’s game, FIFA established its first-ever Women’s Football Division in 2016 under Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman.
FIFA says the division will work closely with MAs around the world via workshops and special initiatives to assist them in bringing together key stakeholders to discuss, develop and implement their respective women’s football strategies and to ensure the greatest impact possible of their efforts to develop and grow the women’s game.