New elite pathway boosts opportunities for girls in Liechtenstein 

Working in partnership with Future Champs Eastern Switzerland (FCO) and the Swiss Football Association (SFA), the LFV will field under-14 and under-16 teams within Switzerland's elite youth structures from this season.

Competing under the name FCO Liechtenstein-Rheintal, the teams will give young players from Liechtenstein and the wider Rhine Valley region greater access to high-quality training and competition close to home.

Elite opportunities closer to home

Liechtenstein has made significant progress on the international stage in recent years, playing their first competitive match in the UEFA Women's Nations League in February 2025, ten years after establishing its women's national team. A first competitive point followed four months later with a 2-2 draw against Armenia.

Now, guided by its dedicated women's football strategy 'Frauen am Ball 2026', the LFV is working to create more accessible pathways for girls and build a pipeline towards the elite game.

"The targeted support of girls and women is a central concern of the LFV and an important part of our strategy," said LFV sporting director Adrienne Krysl.

The inclusion of teams in Switzerland's elite youth structure aims to support that ambition by bringing high-level training and competition closer to home, reducing travel demands on young players and their families, and making elite football more accessible.

©LFV/Peter Rinderer

Regional cooperation strengthens the pathway

The establishment of FCO Liechtenstein-Rheintal also reflects the importance of regional cooperation in creating stronger development opportunities for promising young players.

Liechtenstein's infrastructure will play an important role, alongside the expertise and resources provided by the FCO, SFV and their regional partners.

"Liechtenstein boasts excellent infrastructure for the sustainable development of talent," said Krysl. "Modern training facilities, its central location in the Rhine Valley, and close collaboration with the SFA and regional partners create optimal conditions for the development of female players."

The LFV hopes the initiative will raise standards across girls' and women's football in Liechtenstein, with the new under-14 and under-16 teams marking another milestone in the development of the country's next generation of female players.