UEFA on Monday (October 15th) pledged 50% more funding to its Women's Football Development Program (FDP) starting in 2020. This program is part of UEFA's HatTrick program, which redistributes funds to 55 member associations for approved development projects. Currently, the PDFF pays 100,000 euros per year to each association. This figure will increase to 150 000 per year from 2020, an increase of 50%.

"The potential of women's football is unlimited, and it is with this in mind that UEFA has undertaken to increase the funds available to national associations to help improve women's football across the continent," the report said. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. "Increasing the participation and role of women in football has been one of my main goals before and after my election as UEFA President".

UEFA has kept its promise to the #WhatIf campaign
We can say that UEFA has indeed responded to the call of the campaign #WhatIf ("Et si" in English). This campaign was launched last May on social networks by the non-profit organization Women in Football. She first invited UEFA as well as big names in women's and men's football, major brands and major British media. Then in a second time she asked them to complete this hashtag #WhatIf ("What if" in English) with concrete proposals to make the football industry a more friendly place for women. Since its launch, the #WhatIf campaign has had a significant impact. Many football players such as FC Barcelona or the English club Everton have made concrete actions in favor of women's football.

===> #WhatIf: Everton and FC Barcelona take action for the development of women's football

Even before the launch of #WhatIf, UEFA launched its own campaign, #WePlayStrong, in June 2017. A campaign to change the perception of women's football and encourage girls to start playing and continue playing ball. With the collaboration of its 55 member associations, the sports authority wants to make football become the number one women's sport in Europe by 2020.

Arnaud Le Quéré