UEFA and CONMEBOL unite to drive women’s leadership in the game across continents 

What does it take for women to break the glass ceiling in football and step into senior leadership roles? How can they build confidence, strengthen their skills and overcome the gender bias?

Thirty women working across the game are now better equipped to take on those challenges thanks to the UEFA–CONMEBOL Women in Football Leadership Programme (WFLP) organised in partnership with IMD Business School.

Modelled on UEFA’s long-running and highly successful UEFA WFLP delivered by the UEFA Academy, the joint programme empowers the next generation of female leaders by giving them the tools, mindset and support network needed to progress into senior positions.

Sandra Parente, Executive Director, Portuguese Football Federation explains:  “Being able to participate with women from South America was truly inspiring. I was able to bring my perspective as a Portuguese participant, discover the differences in our football environments, and also the many similarities in our challenges, ambitions, and commitment to growing women’s leadership infootball.”

After an inaugural edition held in Brazil last year, participants gathered this week at the headquarters of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) in Buenos Aires to explore leadership, influence, communication, and resilience, all essential to driving change within their organisations and the wider football landscape.

“UEFA is proud to join forces with CONMEBOL, IMD and the Argentina Football Association on this transformative programme dedicated to empowering women across South America and beyond” says Emily Shaw, UEFA head of executive office and international relations.

The week-long course is open to both women in senior leadership positions and those aspiring to reach them, combining expert-led coaching with group discussion on multiple aspects of leadership, with a strong focus on self-awareness and how it can support career development.

CONMEBOL’s Deputy General Secretary Monserrat Jiménez explains:  “The objective of this programme is to bring together women working in football, fostering collaboration, mutual support and the exchange of experiences. Through this initiative, CONMEBOL, with the support of AFA, reaffirms its commitment to continue promoting and creating more spaces and opportunities for women within the football ecosystem.” 

Global exchanges and cross-confederation empowerment

UEFA

The UEFA–CONMEBOL Women in Football Leadership Programme forms part of the UEFA Together initiative, which promotes the global development of the game through cooperation, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships with sister confederations.

This second edition brought together representatives from UEFA, CONMEBOL and Concacaf, alongside participants from South American national associations and football organisations, FIFA, and the Portuguese and Spanish FAs.

“This programme was a wonderful experience, during which we could meet other women from South America and beyond to share our experiences. The IMD team really helped us to think differently and build on our existing knowledge. It has been really transformative for us" explains Soledad Bernachea, General Secretary at Club Atlético Lanús.