UEFA strategy – Together for the Future of Football

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.

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, 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

2020-21

2019-20

Trust

2020-21

2019-20

Competitiveness

2020-21

2019-20

Prosperity

2020-21

2019-20 

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