Monday 11 March 2024, 09:30

Greek FA launches its women's football strategy with FIFA support

  • The launch took place in Athens ahead of International Women's Day

  • The FIFA Women's Football Development Programme supported the strategy

  • It includes a first-ever U-15 girls´ national championship, supported by FIFA Forward

The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has launched its women's football strategy with the support of FIFA through the Women's Football Development Programme. The event in Athens, which took place on 7 March 2024 on the eve of International Women's Day, was attended by the EPO President Panagiotis Baltakos and Executive Director Iakovos Filippousis, representatives from the Greek Super League, players from the women's national teams, women's football clubs in three national divisions and the Panhellenic Association of Professional Football Players.

The strategy includes the implementation of a first-ever national U-15 girls' championship, which will be supported by the FIFA Forward programme. Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA's Regional Director Europe, and Nadine Kessler, UEFA Managing Director of women's football and a former European champion with Germany, also attended the launch. FIFA launched its own Women's Football Strategy in 2018, based on five pillars: develop and grow on and off the pitch; showcase the game and improve women’s competitions; communicate and commercialise; govern and lead; and educate and empower. It has also encouraged FIFA Member Associations to launch their own strategies, saying these are key to growing the game.

FIFA believes that the success of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™, along with the expanded format which allows more teams to dream of qualifying, will inspire more FIFA Member Associations to invest in women's football. The FIFA Congress on 17 May 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, will appoint the hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.

Strategy pillars

FIFA will achieve its objectives by executing the five strategic pillars:

1. Develop and grow

FIFA will focus on developing the women’s game, both on and off the pitch, at all levels. FIFA will also support member associations in developing football locally, to retain and grow female participation and do all that is necessary to ensure that girls and women have clear pathways to play, administer and govern the game.

2. Showcase the game

As part of FIFA’s broader efforts to deliver the greatest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup and consequently further drive development in women’s football, we will optimise our competitions to ensure that the best players and teams in the world are showcased.

3. Communicate and commercialise

FIFA will broaden the exposure of women's football and increase its commercial value. To boost the visibility of women's football and unlock its potential at all levels, FIFA will support its member associations whilst maximising the commercialisation of its own competitions.

4. Govern and lead

FIFA will endeavour to create more opportunities to upskill and empower everyone working in women’s football, both on and off the pitch.

5. Educate and empower

FIFA will harness the power of women’s football and its competitions to highlight the game’s unmatched ability to drive positive societal change for women and girls all around the world.