On Sunday, 27 August, the Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) hosted an international seminar on women's football Club Licensing with the support and participation of FIFA.

The FPF introduced the pilot project for Club Licensing to local club presidents as a fundamental tool for developing and regulating sports clubs, covering various aspects such as infrastructure, finances, administration, legal matters, and sports-related aspects.

The event featured the presence of Ivan Rivera (President of the FPF), Andres Portabella (FIFA Women's Football Expert), Jose Rodriguez (Director of FIFA's Regional Office in Panama), and Cristhian Tonelli (Concacaf), along with directors from different areas of the FPF, including Leslivette Molina (Club Licensing), Fabian Arce (Competitions), and Daniel Mozo (Technical Secretary).

The FPF is the only Caribbean member association (MA) with an approved pilot program. Costa Rica has also joined this initiative, making them the only two MAs in the entire Concacaf region.

Ivan Rivera, President of the FPF, said "Our first seminar in Puerto Rico was a great success. We were able to share our global strategy for women's football with the clubs and present how club licensing is tied to our strategy. Moreover, it was a wonderful opportunity for the clubs to address any doubts. The presidents played a pivotal role in this workshop, and their participation was fantastic. We are very grateful to FIFA and Concacaf for their ongoing support."

Speakers highlighted the importance of club licensing for women's football. Apart from promoting good governance within clubs and increasing confidence in the integrity of competitions, this system is expected to provide financial stability to clubs and enhance the quality of coaches involved in the sport, among other benefits.

"Our new club licensing system for women's clubs presents an exciting opportunity to reinforce and elevate the level of this sport on our island. It marks a turning point in the evolution of our sport, driving positive change in the management, development, and visibility of women's football across all aspects. "Working in tandem with women's football leaders, this new program will set standards of excellence, promote better club structures, and offer players an optimal development environment. It's a step forward in solidifying women's football as a source of inspiration and achievement in Puerto Rico," analyzed Leslivette Molina, FPF Club Licensing Manager.

The successful implementation of Club Licensing promises to bring MAs and clubs closer together, creating a flexible framework that adapts to national realities and enables the equitable and sustainable growth of women's football in each region.

In this regard, Andrés Portabella, FIFA Women's Football Expert, concluded, "Sunday was a historic day for women's football in Puerto Rico. Bringing women's football clubs together for the first time under the umbrella of Club Licensing was a significant step in initiating this program. The FPF will now embark on a pilot implementation of club licenses for the upcoming season of their top-tier women's league."