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What is UEFA’s five-year strategy?
The UEFA Strategy 2019-2024 – Together for the Future of Football – sets out a five-year road map for the development of European football.
Based on extensive consultation with all 55 European national associations, leagues, clubs and players' representative groups, the strategy was approved in 2019 by the 43rd Ordinary UEFA Congress in Rome, Italy.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin
"This is not just a mission for UEFA but for everyone involved in football, and we should all be united in this mission."
How does the strategy contribute to UEFA's mission?
We focus on five strategic pillars, each with a distinct set of goals to help achieve our mission: keeping football the most played, trusted, competitive, engaging and responsible sport. UEFA’s Executive Committee approved the fifth ‘responsibility’ pillar in 2021 – recognition of football’s potential for driving positive change in society.
1. Football
- Grow and secure long-term participation within European football
- Lead and support the advancement of national football associations
- Ensure football in Europe is accessible and available to all
- Promote and develop football infrastructure across Europe
2. Trust
- Provide leadership to the national associations
- Promote good governance and increased transparency
- Protect the integrity of football
- Develop stakeholder involvement
3. Competitiveness
- Ensure UEFA competitions are competitive and meaningful for all
- Pursue the optimal football calendar to facilitate domestic and international competitions
- Work to maintain competitive balance through sporting and financial measures
- Protect and support financial sustainability at all levels
4. Prosperity
- Continue growing revenues
- Pursue more efficient development through research and investment
- Establish continuous fan engagement and relationships
- Enhance our international image and awareness
5. Responsibility
- Ensure European football takes responsibility for helping achieve UN sustainable development goals
- Guarantee the safety of everyone involved in football, safeguarding youth players and children
- Maintain respect as our overarching value, encouraging inclusive practices and activities
- Foster economically viable, sustainable programmes that conserve the game for future generations
Impact of UEFA strategy: the score so far
Football
2021-22
• ROI study on women's club football launched between UEFA and ECA
• Introduction of Finalissima match between the EURO and Copa América winners, plus other events
• 'Football in Schools' launched in Moldova for Grassroots Week
2020-21
2019-20
• Football in Schools programme
Trust
2021-22
• New UEFA procurement unit initiated
• UEFA becomes first sports organisation in Switzerland to be EQUAL-SALARY certified
• UEFA stages Convention on the Future of European Football inviting all stakeholder groups
2020-21
• Return to Play Protocol devised for UEFA matches
• Child safeguarding policy and toolkit digital platform launched
2019-20
• UEFA internal governance and compliance unit
Competitiveness
2021-22
• Approval of post-2024 UEFA club competitions format and structure
• New UEFA Women's Champions League financial distribution model including solidarity payments
• Implementation of new Procedural rules governing the UEFA Club Financial Control Body
2020-21
• Successful completion of 2019/20 season
• Financial sustainability measures adjusted after pandemic hit
• National Associations receive flexible HatTrick solidarity payments
2019-20
• UEFA Europa Conference League
• Launch of women’s club licensing
Prosperity
2021-22
• Signing of dedicated UEFA women's competitions' partners
2020-21
• Women’s Champions League centralisation of rights
• Reimagine Football innovation scheme
2019-20
• UEFA.tv
• UEFA Club Competitions SA
Responsibility
2021-22
• UEFA and European Commission commit to long-term cooperation in the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion
• Launch of UEFA Football Sustainability Strategy 2030
• UEFA and European Commission kick off #EveryTrickCounts – campaign to tackle climate change
How has UEFA's strategy helped European football respond to the challenges of a global pandemic?
Together for the Future of Football was not developed with a global health emergency in mind, but it has helped our football community respond to the challenges resulting from the global pandemic:
- By building consensus among football’s key stakeholders, the strategy laid the foundations for the European football communities united response to its biggest crisis since the Second World War.
- By introducing policies and programmes to achieve its 2024 goals, the strategy indirectly helped national associations and clubs to cope with the sudden loss of revenue due to national lockdowns – from creating incentives to follow good governance principles to the Football Federations of the Future programme, which fosters business development.
Related links
UEFA Strategy 2019-24: Together for the Future of Football
UEFA Strategy 2019-20: key achievements