Player support central to latest UEFA Football Board meeting

Current and former international players and coaches from across Europe joined us on Monday for the latest UEFA Football Board meeting, sharing their experiences and perspectives to help shape the future of the game.

Chaired by UEFA deputy general secretary and director of football, Giorgio Marchetti, and director of women's football, Nadine Kessler, the Football Board meets annually to discuss and debate a range of issues affecting women's football in Europe. The event welcomes an array of views and opinions from some of the sport's most experienced figures – with more than 2,000 international caps between them – to help guide our activity and keep the sport moving forwards.

"I'd like to extend a huge thank you to everybody who gave their time to join us at this latest UEFA Football Board meeting," Marchetti said. "It was a vital opportunity for us to present the progress we have made both on and off the pitch, but more importantly listen to some of the players and coaches who know the game best.

"Keeping players at the centre of the game is a strategic priority for UEFA, and in a few short hours, we were able to discuss a wide range of topics that are so valuable to understanding players' needs and how we can continue to drive women's football forward across the whole of Europe."

Who joined the latest UEFA Football Board meeting?

"It's a privilege to know that we have a voice here and the opportunity to shape an ever-evolving game," said Norway national team coach, Gemma Grainger. "It's a responsibility that I take very seriously. The growth of the game is so important and it's changing at such a rate that contributing at these meetings really helps to make good decisions for the women's game. For UEFA to listen to players and then action that feedback is so powerful."

Player health, increased research and the evolution of the match calendar in an evolving landscape

Player welfare formed a central focus of the board meeting, with members discussing UEFA’s growing portfolio of medical research and health focused initiatives dedicated to female footballers.

Ongoing work includes the UEFA load study, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury research, and projects exploring menstrual cycle considerations – part of our wider commitment to generating data and practical guidance tailored specifically for female players.

By working towards defining what "load" means– from the physical demands of training and matches to the wider factors influencing performance and wellbeing – we aim to generate insights that will help to guide future policies that protect players' welfare.

Attendees also discussed developments in medical practice and resource provision across the game, highlighting opportunities to support players with clearer, more accessible information on injury management and recovery.

On this topic, members welcomed the recent launch of OWN IT, a UEFA-led series designed to empower players at all levels with trusted insights on key health themes connected to performance and wellbeing.

The meeting then turned to the competitive landscape and the evolution of UEFA women’s club competitions.

There was widespread praise for both the new format of the UEFA Women's Champions League and the launch of the UEFA Women's Europa Cup, which has opened the doors of European competition to more players and clubs from a greater spread of national associations.

As the competition landscape evolves, participants emphasised the importance of ensuring that organisational standards, team services and match environments continue to grow in tandem with the expanding calendar. Better scheduling opportunities – particularly those supporting fan engagement and stadium attendance – were highlighted as an important ongoing priority.

Finally, members assessed the current international match calendar, refreshed for 2026, noting the reduction to five international windows each year and the introduction of two different release window types. In relation to player load, the board explored the various contributing factors of the calendar – from travel demands and recovery time to rest periods and personal obligations – as part of a broader commitment to maintaining a balanced and sustainable framework for both clubs and national teams.

For players by players: ideas to inspire fellow pros

Board members also worked together to spark new ideas for supporting current and future players throughout their careers.

Drawing on their own experiences, they identified potential gaps and opportunities where the football community can better support elite players in five areas – player performance and health, career pathways, personal finances, social impact, and digital and personal brand.

These conversations will prompt further discussions that help UEFA and our fellow stakeholders to devise strategic programmes. This includes identifying and creating easier routes into a second career, with the board demonstrating an appetite for keeping more players involved in the game once they hang up their boots. This was emphasised with the need for increased coaching opportunities to be made available, particularly for professionals wishing to take their licences while still playing.