- New Women's Sport Taskforce to lead a decade of change
through to the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035
- Announcement follows England heroes attending champions'
reception at No10 Downing Street, and comes ahead of homecoming
event in London today
Priority access to grassroots football pitches for women and
girls is to be more than doubled, as part of a series of plans
announced by the Government to honour the success of the
Lionesses.
As part of its Plan for Change, the Government is announcing new
plans that are expected to more than double the share of
primetime slots dedicated to women's and girls' teams at
Government-funded facilities across England over the next five
years, with a clear long-term target of reaching equal access as
demand grows.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also honour the
team's second consecutive UEFA European Championship title by
dedicating flagship sites and pitches to the Lionesses,
celebrating their journeys from grassroots to international
success.
These moves are the first details set out on how some of
the Government's £400 million
investment in new grassroots facilities, announced in June
2025, will be allocated to inspire more people to enjoy the
benefits of sport and physical activity.
In partnership with the Premier League and The Football
Association, the Government will be launching a new grants scheme
to be delivered by the Football Foundation, which will focus on
creating welcoming, safe and accessible facilities for women and
girls at existing grassroots sports sites.
Meanwhile, the Government will be introducing a new approach to
school sport which will work with schools and National Governing
Bodies, like the FA, to make sure that all children have access
to high quality sport. By working to connect local sports clubs,
national bodies and schools, our new national network will make
sure girls have the same opportunities as boys to play sport at
school. It follows recently announced plans
by the Prime Minister to reform school sport to deliver equal
access for girls alongside boys.
Beyond this week's celebrations and legacy plans, the Government
is seeking to make the next ten years a decade of change, so that
by 2035 the UK is showcased as a leader in all aspects of women's
and girls' sport, from the field of play to the boardroom. Beyond
action on school sport and investment in facilities, this will
see support for professional women's sport and its workforce,
increasing visibility of women's sport in the media, and
investment in major events in women's sport. The Government will
continue to work with the Lionesses and the FA to maximise the
impact of all of these plans.
A new Women's Sport Taskforce will bring together leaders from
across sport and academia to ensure the incredible progress seen
in football is accelerated elsewhere. The Taskforce, which will
meet for the first time at this summer's Women's Rugby World Cup,
will focus on finding solutions to the most pressing challenges
facing women and girls in sport, from female athlete health to
building a more diverse and dynamic workforce.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, , said:
Today we're taking decisive action to ensure that the incredible
success of the Lionesses creates a lasting legacy for women and
girls in sport.
This isn't just about celebrating today's achievements – it's
about building the foundations through our Plan for Change by
removing barriers to participation.
From ensuring every girl has equal access to sport in schools
through our new partnership model, to creating facilities where
women and girls can thrive, we're investing in the champions of
tomorrow.
The Government also continues to work closely with the Home
Nation FAs and devolved governments on a bid for the FIFA Women's
World Cup in 2035, a tournament that would provide another
monumental moment in our sporting history, boost the economy and
add to the legacy of a team that has made us all proud again this
summer.
Today's announcement follows Prime Minister and Culture Secretary travelling to Basel to see
England beat Spain in the final of UEFA EURO 2025 on Sunday
evening, defending the title they won at Wembley three years
ago.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Sports Minister hosted a homecoming
reception which brought together players, coaches and
representatives from the Football Association at 10 Downing
Street. A full homecoming event will take place in central London
today, where the public will have a chance to show their
appreciation for the most successful football team in our
nation's history.
