The 2025/26 UEFA Grassroots Awards winners
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
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Programmes from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden and Ukraine have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to the grassroots game.
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The UEFA Grassroots Awards recognise European football's unsung heroes, shining a spotlight on their vital work to make the sport we all love enjoyable, accessible and safe for everybody who wants to be a part of it.
Each year, gold, silver and bronze awards are presented across five categories. They are presented in partnership with EA Sports FC and Lidl, who work alongside UEFA to help develop players and promote healthy lifestyles across Europe.
"Grassroots football is where the love of the game begins. These awards celebrate the people and organisations who create positive, inclusive environments for players of all ages and abilities," said Olivier Doglia, UEFA’s chief of football development. "Their work not only strengthens communities but ensures the long-term health and future of football across Europe. Congratulations to each of the winners, and a huge thank you to our partners, EA Sports FC and Lidl, for their fantastic support."
Gold winners each receive €10,000, with silver and bronze winners receiving €6,000 and €4,000 respectively to support their work. Representatives from this year’s winning initiatives received their awards in a special ceremony at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on 31 March.
Jennifer Schofield, Social Impact Lead at EA Sports FC
"We believe grassroots football is the heartbeat of the game. It’s where players, coaches, and communities come together to build not just skills, but confidence, inclusion, and a lifelong love of football. The UEFA Grassroots Awards shine a light on the incredible individuals and organisations making that impact every day. We’re proud to support this initiative and to celebrate the inspiring work being done across Europe to grow the game for everyone."
Thomas Bulitta, Head of Partnerships Sport at Lidl
"The UEFA Grassroots Awards remind us that the most important victories for a healthy society are won long before reaching the professional leagues. We are proud to honour this year’s winners, who act as vital role models for an active lifestyle. For Lidl, this journey is about ensuring that the passion for the game leads to a better quality of life – making movement and conscious nutrition a natural part of everyday life for families across Europe."
Best Initiative by a Professional Football Club
A professional club that uses its reach and resources to make a positive impact beyond the pitch, championing grassroots football through community engagement, education and social initiatives.
Gold: BK Häcken (Sweden)
Working with 16 grassroots clubs across Gothenburg, BK Häcken has built a collaborative football network focused on coach, player and club development, creating an environment built on collective strength for 3,000 girls and boys.
By providing education, sharing expertise and responding to the needs of partner clubs, the initiative has strengthened coaching standards, improved player retention and reinforced a regional model based on cooperation rather than competition.
“The club is part of an ecosystem,” said Kristoffer Pilmalm, a former zone developer at BK Häcken. “The elite club’s role in that is to support grassroots clubs as a partner.”
Silver: Heart of Midlothian (Scotland)
Bronze: Budapest Honvéd FC (Hungary)
Best Grassroots Club
A grassroots club that inspires participation, creates positive experiences, and provides a player-centred environment that supports development and fosters a lifelong love of the game.
Gold: Pollok United (Scotland)
By transforming and reopening disused sporting facilities in Glasgow, Pollok United has created an inclusive community hub that offers football, health and wellbeing activities.
Working with the city council and local partners, the club now supports hundreds of regular users, including schoolchildren, asylum seekers and refugees. The benefits are amplified by the 150 other local teams that now use the facilities, with as many as 10,000 people visiting the site each month.
“Every team that comes here are seen as a partner and will get the same welcome and opportunity,” said club manager Andy Elliott.
Silver: Boldklubben Union (Denmark)
Bronze: Football Club Pobrežje Maribor (Slovenia)
Best Education Initiative
A programme that develops knowledge and skills across the football community, promoting inclusivity, quality, and positive, safe environments for all.
Gold: Coaching Girls Module (The Netherlands)
Developed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KVNB), the Coaching Girls Module is a research-led programme designed to help coaches better understand the needs of girls and create safer, more supportive football environments.
Through online videos, practical tools, a free educational booklet and nationwide workshops, the initiative has reached 50,000 users, supporting coaches across the Netherlands and helping girls stay engaged in football for longer.
“Coaching girls requires specific knowledge. We aim to help trainers develop their skills so their coaching is better tailored to how girls experience the game,” said KNVB football development project assistant Rosalie van Wetten.
Silver: Fotbollslyftet (Sweden)
Bronze: Primary Playbook (Republic of Ireland)
Best Participation Initiative
An initiative that creates more opportunities to play – promoting inclusion, accessibility and community engagement while supporting youth development and participation in football.
Gold: Primary School League – Challenge Month (Lithuania)
The Lithuanian Football Federation’s (LFF) Primary School League – Challenge Month initiative encourages children across Lithuania to stay active through a mix of football, physical activity and educational tasks linked to healthy living and school subjects.
With more than 220 schools and over 10,000 children taking part, the initiative combines classroom-based challenges, teacher support and end-of-project festivals to boost participation nationwide.
“We want to create opportunities for all children if they want to participate in football,” says Ignas Marcinkevičius, head of grassroots football at the LFF.
Silver: DBU Kids Club (Denmark)
Bronze: Barclays Girls' Football in Schools (England)
Best Disability Initiative
A project that recognises efforts to make football accessible for all, break down barriers and create inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities.
Gold: League of the Mighty (Ukraine)
Launched by the Ukrainian Association of Football, the League of the Mighty has rapidly developed the foundations of amputee football in the country, with 20 teams and a two-division national championship now active in Ukraine.
Through newly trained referees, coaches and support staff, the project has created playing opportunities for more than 500 players while promoting inclusion and changing perceptions across society.
“We really had to change the ecosystem in Ukraine and create a world for amputee football,” said Olena Balbek, director of the department of strategic development and sustainability at the UAF.
Silver: KMF Mungosi (Serbia)
Bronze: UNI Football League (Kazakhstan)
How are the UEFA Grassroots Award winners chosen?
Candidates are nominated by our 55 member national associations, with winners selected by the UEFA Development and Technical Assistance Committee following recommendations from the UEFA Grassroots Panel.
Since their launch in 2010, 188 UEFA Grassroots Awards have been presented to winners from 45 national associations.