How children across Europe are benefitting from UEFA Football in Schools
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Article summary
Our Football in Schools programme continues to have an impact throughout Europe, giving children from all backgrounds access to the game in a safe, fun and positive environment.
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We launched the UEFA Football in Schools programme in 2020 with one clear aim: to give young people a positive experience of the game in a safe environment, irrespective of their ability, gender, ethnicity or religion.
Since then, more than 41,500 schools across Europe have been involved in the programme, with 110,800 teachers taking part in coaching sessions for more than seven million children – including over three million girls. A total of 4,400 Football in Schools events have been hosted, with 14,750 equipment packs delivered.
Yet Football in Schools is about far more than simply the numbers.
"Beyond these numbers, these are real stories and a positive impact on children that matter the most," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. "None of this would be possible without the hard work and passion of many who believe in football's power to change lives.
"But there's still more to do. We are committed to bringing the game closer to even more children. In a world where kids face so many challenges, they deserve a space where they can just be kids. Somewhere safe, carefree, and full of fun with their friends. The football pitch is the perfect place for this."
Here’s how the programme is making a tangible impact for children throughout the continent.
Investing in the future
With funding available to all 55 of our national associations, the total combined spending from UEFA, association investment, government bodies and other institutions reached more than €24m between 2020 and 2024.
Following the success of the first four years of Football in Schools, we are already investing a further €11m into the programme through to 2028, as young people across the continent benefit from early access to football training.
Success stories across the continent
Teachers take training in Cyprus
As part of Football in Schools, the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) has pledged to train one teacher in each of the country’s 360 primary schools.
The scheme sees 50,000 schoolchildren receive two football training sessions each week, and the CFA has also incorporated new links between football academies and local schools to open pathways beyond junior school for all those who want to continue their sporting journey.
"We want all children to get introduced to the world of football from the age of six years old. Following UEFA’s directive, we have also put a big focus on encouraging girls in schools to play football and that has been a really great pathway."
Ukraine links schools with clubs
The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) has similarly set out to use the Football in Schools programme as the start of a pathway, linking schools with local clubs, whose coaches deliver additional training sessions at the schools.
"Our aim is simply to make the programmes as inclusive as possible. Irrespective of gender, age or physical ability, we want to run football everywhere, and for everyone."
To date, more than 500 schools have paired up with clubs, meaning 14,000 children have participated in training sessions.
Meanwhile, 61 festivals of football have been held using Football in Schools funding, opening up the game to a further 8,000 kids thanks to the help of 1,623 volunteers.
Teenage volunteers drive effort in Denmark
Another example of the impact of the Football in Schools programme can be seen in Denmark, where teenagers from local clubs are supporting schools in voluntary roles as part of the Danish Football Association’s Mind, Body, Club project.
The partnership benefits the schools, offering the teachers coaching support in physical sessions, while simultaneously allowing the teenagers a chance to discover the social and psychological benefits of volunteering within their communities.
So far, 95 schools and local clubs have been ‘twinned’ as part of the initiative, putting on coaching sessions for more than 9,000 children.
Getting schoolkids moving in Malta
The Malta Football Association has designed a programme that incorporates Football in Schools funding with improving the fundamental movement skills of schoolchildren in the country.
The Fun Fit 5 project sees Maltese primary schools hold daily 45-minute physical activity sessions that emphasise the fun in fitness.
A year-long research study into the impact of the scheme found that spending 45 minutes on sports and physical activity instead of regular academic lessons led to no disadvantage in the children’s academic attainment, while also providing them with numerous benefits.
In terms of movement, those children who took part in the programme took more steps overall during school hours than the European average, and 38% more steps than those kids who did not participate in the study.
Lithuania opening up future pathways
More than 40,000 children have participated in Football in Schools sessions in Lithuania so far as part of a partnership between local primary schools and grassroots football clubs.
And the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) is building on the success of the coaching programme by offering the opportunity for young volunteers from the clubs to continue their coaching journey.
"If they decide not to continue playing themselves, we are encouraging them to consider a coaching or refereeing course. This ensures we try to keep pace with the growth in children playing, by also expanding the number of participants in other key roles."
The LFF has also utilised futsal as a way of opening up more football pathways for girls at secondary school age. There are 150 teams playing in competitions across the country, proving a popular option for more girls to play at a high level in the country.
A Football in Schools partnership with local futsal clubs has also created opportunities for players from schools in villages and small towns to play in tournaments against a higher level of opposition. In one particular case, a young player has been able to use the project as a launchpad to secure a professional futsal career in Italy, underlining the pathway potential that the LFF’s scheme offers for teenage girls.