UEFA Foundation strengthens access to football for Belgian youth

Playing football with friends should be simple and accessible for every child. Across Belgium, the UEFA Foundation for Children is working to make that a reality by funding and supporting local initiatives that open the game to minorities and children who often face barriers to sport.

Over the years, in close partnership with the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), the foundation has created a series of targeted funding schemes designed to help grassroots projects grow, strengthen their impact and get more children onto the pitch, regardless of their background.

Here’s an overview of the initiatives supported through this collaboration and beyond, a series of grassroots projects that use football as a tool for inclusion, education and community building across Belgium.

BX Femina – creating pathways for girls

Royal Belgian Football Association

As part of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 last summer, the UEFA Foundation for Children and the adidas Foundation partnered with national associations and local organisations to advance gender equity across all 16 competing nations. In Belgium, the selected project was BX Brussels, a community‑driven club in one of the city's most diverse neighbourhoods. Through BX Femina, which now comprises 120 female players, the club offers a wide range of training opportunities, including:

• high-quality training and tournaments, like the BX Femina International tournament
• robust safeguarding measures
• personal development programmes
• inspiring role models and initiatives such as the Femina Inspiration Day.

The project creates safe, inclusive pathways for girls to thrive and sets a national benchmark for gender equality in sport.

Mbo Mpenza challenge – promoting inclusion in schools

Mbo Mpenza Challenge

The Mbo Mpenza Challenge, created by former international striker Mbo Mpenza, is expanding its mission to use football as a driver of inclusion and respect in Belgian schools. After seven years of youth tournaments and the rollout of free pedagogical resources across the French-speaking community, the project now aims to integrate its method directly into citizenship and PE classes. Alongside its awareness and training work, it is launching new action-focused initiatives, such as:

• national and international tournaments
• an app that tracks participants’ progress
• sponsorships for children from disadvantaged areas
• workshops on discrimination, first aid and nutrition

The project is designed to make sport accessible to every child, no matter their gender, background or ability.

Peace Field Project – fostering peace through play

The Peace Field Project uses football as a gateway to peace education, giving young people from migrant, disabled and disadvantaged backgrounds the tools to communicate, resolve conflict and work together. Each year, the initiative brings its mission to life through:

• annual events on “peace pitches” twinned with the historic Flanders Peace Field
• online resources and training materials that introduce the principles of peacebuilding
• the Global Peace Games, a week of mixed gender and mixed ability sport, cultural exchanges and workshops

By blending football with multicultural awareness and mental well being, the project aims to foster empathy, strengthen confidence and nurture the peacemakers of tomorrow.

Red Courts – bringing communities together

Last year, 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 a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, with a special focus on disadvantaged children.

Throughout 2025, 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.

We Welcome Young Refugees project

Aurélie, originally from Cameroon, arrived in Belgium in 2020. Since then, she has found a second home at the Kraainem centre, where she trains every week with unwavering dedication. VIRGINIE NGUYEN HOANG/Collectif HUMA

Royal Europa ’90 Kraainem FC has become known as Belgium’s “club of diversity”, using football as a bridge for young refugees and asylum seekers since 2015. What began as a response to rising migration has grown into a long term integration programme, now also supporting Ukrainian children.

Every afternoon during the season, the club welcomes boys and girls to join discussions and train with its youth teams, helping them regain stability, confidence and a sense of belonging. By sharing its approach with other organisations, the club hopes to inspire similar initiatives and show how sport can play a meaningful role in community integration.