Circular 1913_FIFA Women’s Football Strategy and FIFA Women’s Development Programme

Industry Investment Rating - The report highlights the exponential growth of women's football, positioning it as football's biggest growth opportunity with vast untapped potential [16][21] Core Viewpoints - FIFA aims to lead the sustainable growth of women's football until 2027 through a revised global strategy and tailored development programmes [2][3] - Key objectives include increasing female participation, enhancing commercial value, and building strong foundations for the women's game [22][23][31] - The FIFA Women's World Cup is identified as a major catalyst for accelerating the growth of women's football globally [17][19] Strategy and Tactics Participation Growth - FIFA targets increasing the number of female players to 60 million by 2027 [37] - Plans to double the number of member associations with organized youth leagues by 2026 to sustain girls' participation [37] Commercial Value Enhancement - FIFA aims to unlock the commercial potential of women's football at all levels, leveraging the success of the FIFA Women's World Cup [26][28] - The organization plans to develop a dedicated women's football commercial programme by 2026 [45] Foundation Building - FIFA commits to modernizing the regulatory framework and ensuring diverse representation in football leadership [32][33] - The organization will invest in targeted research to close the gender research gap and support the professionalisation of women's football [32] Game Plan Execution - FIFA's five-pronged strategy includes developing and growing the game, showcasing it, communicating and commercialising it, governing and leading, and educating and empowering stakeholders [35] - Specific tactics include modernizing development programmes, creating new competitions, and strengthening the Women's International Match Calendar [36][42] Development Programmes Women's Football Strategy - FIFA supports member associations in developing or revising their women's football strategies through expert guidance and funding up to USD 10,000 [93] Women's Football Campaign - This programme aims to boost grassroots participation by organizing football festivals and providing safe spaces for minority groups [96][98] League Development - Focuses on introducing new competitions and strengthening existing ones, with funding up to USD 100,000 per year for capacity-building [105][106] Club Licensing - Aims to accelerate the professionalisation of women's football by raising club and league standards through licensing workshops and funding up to USD 20,000 per year [111][112] Commercial Strategy (Pilot) - Provides guidance to member associations for establishing sustainable sponsorship and marketing strategies, with funding up to USD 50,000 [115][117] Global Benchmarking of Women's Leagues - FIFA will monitor the state of women's leagues globally and provide benchmarking tools to improve their quality and competitiveness [121][123] Capacity-Building for Administrators - Offers workshops and funding up to USD 50,000 to enhance the skills of women's football staff in member associations [130][131] Women in Football Leadership - Aims to increase female representation in decision-making roles through leadership workshops and networking opportunities [136][137] Coach Education Scholarships - Supports the development of female coaches through individual and group scholarships, including course fees and networking opportunities [149][150] Coach Mentorship - Focuses on fostering the growth of female coaches through mentorship programmes and funding up to USD 50,000 [156][157] Elite Performance: Coach Mentorship - Aims to develop talented female coaches aspiring to coach at the highest level, with support from experienced mentors and funding up to USD 2,500 [160][161] Elite Performance: Women's National Team Preparation - Supports the physical preparation of women's national teams for major tournaments, with funding up to USD 25,000 per year [172][173]