World Children’s Day: Placing safety at the heart of football

As we celebrate World Children’s Day, UEFA and our national associations have reaffirmed our commitment to protecting children and young people in football at a landmark event in Copenhagen, hosted by the Danish Football Association at the Brøndby Stadium.

Experts, national associations and advocacy leaders gathered to strengthen European football's policies, sharing solutions that ensure the game remains a safe and empowering space for every child.

A shared responsibility

Children and young people are among the most vulnerable in our society, and we believe that football should offer them a safe space to play and have fun. Protecting them from threats, whether physical, emotional or digital, is a central pillar of our Strength through Unity sustainability strategy.

The workshop highlighted how football can lead by example, creating environments where every child feels secure, valued and included. The programme combined presentations with panel discussions, allowing national associations to highlight their achievements while also presenting initiatives and solutions that could inspire others.

Key highlights from Copenhagen

• Advancing policy and event safeguarding: We presented major progress in child and youth protection across Europe, unveiling the final Child and Youth Protection Protocol, which will be embedded in all UEFA events.

• Health, inclusion and well-being: Participants explored crucial topics such as children’s health through the Take Care programme, football opportunities for children with disabilities, and the essential role safeguarding officers play in driving these initiatives.

• Interactive learning and practical solutions: Through dynamic working groups led by grassroots and sustainability experts, alongside Terre des hommes, attendees tackled real-life scenarios from their daily roles, strengthening their understanding and building capacity to respond effectively.

Looking forward: new child safeguarding tools

The Copenhagen event represents another significant step towards consolidating Europe-wide policies and procedures that safeguard every child in football, fostering a culture of protection across the European game.

Our evidence-based tools and resources are accessible to everyone for free through our new platform, ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority across the game.

On World Children’s Day, we call on the entire football community to champion child protection as a shared responsibility. Together, we can make football a source of joy, belonging and resilience for generations to come.