UEFA Playmakers teams up with Disney’s Moana to encourage young girls to play football

What is UEFA Playmakers?

Launched by UEFA and Disney in 2020, Playmakers was created to give young girls a fun, safe and imaginative introduction to football. Inspired by beloved Disney stories, the programme uses adventure-led sessions to help girls build confidence, develop movement skills and experience the joy of the game in a pressure-free environment. Since its launch, Playmakers has introduced more than 168,000 girls aged five to eight to football in 46 countries across Europe.

What began as an innovative pilot has grown into one of UEFA’s most distinctive grassroots initiatives, giving girls a welcoming first experience of football through play-based learning and storytelling rather than traditional drills. The UEFA Playmakers programme aims to inspire girls with friendships, health and confidence, life skills and, above all, a love of football.

Moana-inspired activities bring football adventures to life

Among the Disney stories featured in the programme, Moana has become one of the standout adventures, helping young girls take their first steps on the pitch. Through imaginative activities inspired by the story, participants are encouraged to move, explore and solve challenges while developing basic football skills.

In one activity, young players recreate the journey to return the Heart of Te Fiti. One participant becomes Te Kā, the fiery guardian of the island, while the others take on the roles of Moana and Maui. Dribbling their ball across the “island”, they must reach the edge and place it on a cone – symbolising the Heart’s return – without being tagged. The result is an introduction to football that feels playful, creative and accessible, helping girls engage with the sport through imagination as much as movement.

A timely spotlight with Disney’s new live-action release

The spotlight on Moana comes at a fitting moment. Disney’s new live-action adaptation, starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui, is set for release on 10 July 2026. The film brings fresh attention to one of the stories already helping introduce young girls to football through Playmakers.

For UEFA and Disney, that connection between storytelling and participation remains central to the programme’s success. By linking familiar characters and adventures with physical activity, Playmakers helps create an environment where girls can feel confident, comfortable and excited to play. UEFA and Disney extended their partnership through 2027, underlining their shared commitment to growing opportunities for girls in football.

Building the pathway beyond Playmakers

Playmakers is only the beginning of the journey. In April 2026, UEFA and Disney launched Play Games, a follow-on initiative designed to help girls aged 5–12 continue their football experience beyond their first Playmakers sessions. Through free, story-driven digital resources, Play Games supports coaches, clubs and schools in helping girls take their next steps in the sport.

The aim is simple: to turn early enthusiasm into long-term participation. Through fun modules focused on attacking and defending in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 formats, Play Games nurtures confidence, creativity and game understanding in a playful, pressure-free setting. It is designed to strengthen the pathway from a girl’s first football experience all the way to club football and beyond.