UEFA Foundation for Children: Ten years of impact and five million reasons to celebrate

In Austria, the “Tore für meine Zukunft” project (Goals for My Future), run by Mentor – Association for Education and Integration, uses football and sport as tools to help disadvantaged young people reintegrate into education, vocational training or employment. Through a combination of sports activities, tutoring and psychosocial support, participants gain confidence, skills and opportunities for a better future.

Recognised as a best-practice example by the FC Barcelona Foundation, the programme has achieved an impressive success rate of over 90%.

In Sheki, the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) organised a mini-football tournament for boys and girls living in orphanages. Beyond the competition, the event aimed to foster team spirit, healthy lifestyles and social integration for children aged nine to 12. Every child was also left with a special gift of sportswear and equipment, and memories of a day where they felt valued and celebrated.

The Royal Belgian Football Association strengthened its commitment to inclusion and equal access to football through the expansion of the Belgian Red Courts project. These community football spaces were designed to provide safe, welcoming environments for everyone, with a special focus on disadvantaged children.

Throughout the year, the Red Courts became vibrant meeting points where football served as a tool for social cohesion, personal development and community engagement. Diverse events were hosted on these courts and outside, offering opportunities for associations and their beneficiaries to connect, share experiences and celebrate the game together.

The Bulgarian Football Union and Tang Ra Football Club continued their mission to provide free football training for disadvantaged children in Fakulteta, one of Sofia’s poorest neighbourhoods.

The programme welcomed around 45 children, with a core group training up to four times a week and participating in weekend matches. Despite limited resources and poor field conditions, the initiative achieved remarkable social impact with improved discipline, school attendance and healthier lifestyles.

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) joined forces with Plavi cvijet Association to launch the AUT Football Camp for children with autism. Alongside football sessions, the project provided therapeutic support, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy playrooms.

Six camps are planned, each promoting inclusion and awareness while giving children and families moments of joy and connection.

The Danish Football Association hosted its first national networking event for volunteer coaches involved in the UEFA Grassroots Award-winning A Part of the Team programme.

The event brought together 60 volunteers from 21 clubs, offering a mix of inspirational presentations, workshops and networking sessions focused on improving inclusive football offers.

The day concluded with dinner and a visit to the national stadium to watch Denmark’s men’s team play Belarus. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in grassroots football.

The Estonian Football Association delivered two major initiatives to promote inclusion and equal opportunities.

The first focused on children with special needs, starting with a football festival at Tallinna Tondi School for over 80 participants, followed by regular adapted training sessions in Pärnu, Viimsi, and Tartu. Walking football was also introduced nationwide, culminating in Estonia’s first Special Olympics Walking Football Tournament.

The second initiative was a national girls’ football campaign, which reached around 150,000 views online, featured 25 players in promotional videos, and sparked increased interest from clubs and families.

The Football Association of Finland launched the Fair Play Responsibles campaign to promote positive behaviour at children’s football matches.

Parents volunteered as Fair Play ambassadors, wearing orange vests during games to set an example and encourage respect. By the season’s end, 283 clubs had ordered 3,624 vests, with plenty of positive feedback.

The initiative has now become a permanent part of the Finnish FA’s Fair Play programme, proving that involving parents is key to creating a supportive and respectful environment for young players.

At the Uwe Seeler Football Park in Malente, the German Football Association (DFB) hosted a summer camp for children who have overcome cancer. For a week, 35 young people enjoyed football, stadium visits and outdoor adventures, accompanied by siblings and friends.

The camp was part of the Kinderträume initiative and will return next year, continuing to offer hope and happiness to families who have faced unimaginable challenges.

In Naples, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Scholas Occurrentes launched Zona Luce at the Nisida Juvenile Penal Institute, a programme that uses football and education to support reintegration and personal growth. Weekly sessions focused on values such as respect, resilience and courage, alongside grassroots football training.

The project received a UEFA Foundation for Children Award for its social value. At the launch event, attended by then Italy coach Luciano Spalletti and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, the message was clear: football can be a bridge to a better future.

The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) successfully delivered a series of football festivals for disadvantaged children and young people across the country.

Working closely with the Latvian SOS Children’s Villages Association, which supported 1,562 disadvantaged children in 2024, and Vitae, an NGO collaborating with 37 special schools and reaching over 5,500 children, the project created inclusive spaces for play, learning and personal growth.

In Liechtenstein, the SOS Family Strengthening programme continued to provide vital assistance to socially and financially disadvantaged families.

With mental health challenges among young people remaining high, the programme funded support for 42 children through psychotherapy, equine therapy, neurofeedback and learning support..

Key interventions included ADHD support, autism counselling, tutoring and daycare for children of seriously ill parents, ensuring equal access to care and fostering confidence, stability and well-being.

In Lithuania, Foundation funding allowed the Vilnius Social Club (VSC) to enhance its work in creating safe spaces for vulnerable or excluded teenagers, expanding into rural areas outside the city for the first time.

VSC's football-focused activity develops children's personal and social skills, teaching independence, teamwork and the importance of compromise. In total, 111 participants from seven separate groups enjoyed over 200 sessions, with the bonus of attending a Lithuania national team match.

What began as a Saturday morning get-together for children on the autism spectrum in Mellieha has grown into a nationwide initiative. Coach Sherif Sleiman’s sessions, supported by the Inhobb il-Futbol Foundation and the Malta Football Association, now reach new locations, and more children, across the island.

“The support from the UEFA Foundation has been instrumental in the success and growth of our programme,” said Mark Gatt of the Inhobb il-Futbol Foundation. “We’re delighted to report a significant increase in participation, reaching more children within the autism spectrum who might not otherwise have had access to such tailored sports opportunities.”

"It's truly inspiring to see the children's progress. They're not only having fun in a supportive and understanding environment, but slowly they're also developing their football skills at their own pace, from fundamental movements to more complex game play."

In Moldova, the Republican Centre for Child Rehabilitation delivered a series of initiatives promoting every child’s right to play and learn.

Through adapted football programmes, inclusive sports activities, and educational seminars, the project focused on children with disabilities and special needs, enhancing physical, cognitive and social development while fostering teamwork and confidence.

Collaboration between educators, therapists, families and international partners ensured a holistic approach, making sport a powerful tool for inclusion and empowerment.

Marcel Bonte/Soccrates

The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) expanded its commitment to inclusion with a pilot project at the Wageningen asylum seeker reception centre.

Building on the larger WorldCoaches programme in Ter Apel, this initiative trained young asylum seekers as community coaches, enabling them to organise regular football activities for local children.

Beyond sport, the project fostered community engagement, personal development and integration, while serving as a strategic model for future outreach to reception centres across the country.

The Irish Football Association and its foundation launched the Football for Futures initiative to support marginalised and disadvantaged children. Through a series of impactful programmes, the initiative brought football into communities as a tool for inclusion, education and well-being.

Highlights included the Community Cup in Cookstown, where 150 children in care came together for a celebration event; Stay Onside, a six‑week programme engaging over 100 young people with football while addressing mental health, anti‑racism and positive behaviour; and Football For All summer camps, which welcomed 140 young people from deprived areas to promote inclusion and resilience.

In addition, Ahead of the Game delivered ten mental health workshops across schools and clubs, tackling stigma and encouraging open conversations. Together, these activities created safe spaces, offered educational pathways and reinforced football’s power to inspire brighter futures.

The Star Team project, developed by the Football Association of Norway in collaboration with Region Nordland and FK Bodø/Glimt, expands access to organised football for children with disabilities. It has established dedicated adapted teams, delivered tailored training through specially educated coaches, and hosted inclusive tournaments and social events that celebrate participation and joy.

Integrated into local football communities, the initiative promotes inclusion and understanding while building confidence and friendships. Launched in Bodø, the project now serves as a model for a future national framework.

Thanks to UEFA Foundation funding, Autism Football expanded inclusive football opportunities for neurodivergent young people across Scotland.

Inclusive festivals, training sessions for coaches and volunteers, and the launch of plans for a national youth league in partnership with the Scottish FA are among the highlights, helping to not only increase participation but also build capacity within grassroots clubs to create safe, welcoming environments.

In Slovakia, the SFZ Foundation ran football camps to 54 children from socially disadvantaged families. For many, it was the highlight of their summer as the camps offered more than just football, but a chance to learn, play and feel part of something bigger, in turn breeding confidence, community and hope that lasts beyond the final whistle.

Mrs Tišliarová from the Centre for Children and Families in Banská Bystrica described the impact:

“For them, it was not just an ordinary sports camp – it was a time full of joy, friendships and experiences that will stay in their memories for a very long time. They learned how to function in a team, improved their communication skills, overcame challenges and experienced the feeling of belonging somewhere.”

The Swiss Football Association, supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children, launched the Welcome to the Club project to address the underrepresentation of women and girls with a migration background in football.

The initiative delivered three e-learning modules focused on promoting girls’ participation, increasing women’s involvement in all roles and fostering cultural diversity. A portrait series and testimonials featuring inspiring role models complemented the modules, creating authentic content to engage clubs and communities.

These resources were showcased during UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 in Bern, Geneva and Zurich, reinforcing football’s commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities.