The Football Association (FA) has announced a bold initiative to ensure 90% of girls in schools have access to football by key stages two and three by 2028. This target is a cornerstone of the

FA's latest four-year plan aimed at increasing the visibility and participation of women’s and girls’ football.

Following the success of the Lionesses at Euro 2022 and their impressive run to the 2023 World Cup final, the FA is determined to build on this momentum and secure another major tournament victory within the next four years. With the European Championship set for Switzerland next summer, the Lionesses will aim to defend their title and gear up for a potential world title bid in 2027.

The FA’s new strategy, titled "Reaching Higher," outlines comprehensive plans to enhance educational opportunities, provide health support for female athletes, establish national safeguarding measures, and expand the presence of women in coaching and refereeing. A significant part of this vision is to maintain the distinct identity of the women’s game, with a goal that "at least 50% of football fans recognize and appreciate the unique values of women’s football."

Equal access to football for girls in schools is recognized by the FA as a crucial objective for the sport’s development. Although there has been significant progress, with 85% of primary schools now offering equal football opportunities for girls in physical education, secondary schools still lag behind. Currently, half of all secondary schools do not provide equal access, underscoring the need for continued efforts to achieve true equality.

The strategy launch on Thursday builds on the prior "Inspiring Positive Change" campaign, which spurred a 56% increase in women’s and girls’ participation in football between 2020 and 2024, according to FA data.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's outgoing director of women's football, who will retire in November, emphasized the importance of sustaining this momentum. “We have made tremendous strides across all areas of women’s and girls’ football over the past four years. However, we must not become complacent; we have to keep striving for higher goals,” she stated.

She further highlighted the ongoing need to promote inclusivity, saying, “While there have been improvements in diversity, we must redouble our efforts to ensure every girl and woman feels a sense of belonging in the football community, whether as a player, coach, official, or leader. We should acknowledge our achievements, but now is the time to push even further and unlock the full potential of women's and girls’ football.”

The FA's announcement coincided with UEFA’s unveiling of its women’s football strategy, "Unstoppable," which pledges a billion-euro investment over six years. UEFA’s plan aims to establish six fully professional women’s leagues in Europe by 2030 and develop a pool of 5,000 professional female players continent-wide. Photo by Christopher Bruno, Wikimedia commons.