In Italy, youth academies in women’s football remain at an embryonic
stage, with strategies largely driven by individual clubs rather than a
coordinated plan from the federations. This article explores what has
been achieved so far – and what could be built in the near future.
FIFA has launched the first-ever Player Impact Programme, a new initiative designed to empower leading women’s footballers to create meaningful social change. Fourteen high-profile players from around the world gathered in Paris to begin the pilot programme, which helps athletes turn their personal passions into real community projects.
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has taken another decisive step in strengthening the global visibility of women’s football. The federation has signed a long-term international media rights partnership with IMG – one of the world’s leading sports marketing agencies – to distribute the global media rights for the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the KNVB Cup, and the Johan Cruijff Shield. The landmark agreement covers all territories outside the Netherlands and represents a major milestone in the KNVB’s international growth strategy.
The United Kingdom has formally submitted its unopposed joint bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking a historic moment for women’s football and for the four home nations. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have united behind a single proposal designed to deliver the largest single-sport event ever staged on UK soil.
In 2025, women’s football entered uncharted financial territory. Transfer records fell three times in a single summer, and global spending soared by more than 700% in just four years — clear proof that the women’s game has become a global business as much as a sport.
The Rise