Leading figures from CONMEBOL and South American football discuss the future of the women’s game
There has never been a more important time to invest in and prioritise women’s football,” says Bareman
Top names, including players, coaches and administrators, from across South America and world football are gathering at a landmark online event this week as the first-ever virtual CONMEBOL Women’s Football Congress takes place.
Aiming to raise awareness of current trends impacting the women’s game in South America, the CONMEBOL Women’s Football Congress is bringing leading names from across world football together to discuss the current trends around the development of the women’s game, promote key values and technical skills, and improve opportunities for all women and girls both on and off the field.
As well as top players and coaches, including Christiane Endler, Deyna Castellanos, Pia Sundhage and Jose Pekerman, representatives from CONMEBOL, FIFA and member associations across South America are taking part in various workshops and panel discussions during the three-day virtual summit dedicated to the development of the women’s game.
Opening the congress, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez announced several important initiatives that will benefit women’s football, including hosting the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina every two years from 2022, proposing the creation of an Intercontinental Cup between women’s clubs and exempting all women coaches from paying pro licence fees for three years.
Also speaking at the start of the congress, FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman highlighted the importance of continued investment at all levels of the women’s game despite the challenges faced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Despite the difficulties faced by football in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to prioritise women’s football, to invest in it, and to show the world that even a global pandemic cannot stop the progress that we are making for women and girls in football all over the world.”
Building on the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ and the growth and commercial interest seen in domestic women’s football competitions, Bareman highlighted the successful delivery of several women’s leagues, including those in Brazil and Colombia, as well as the recent semi-finals of the Campeonato Femenino Transicion 2020 in Chile and the Copa Libertadores qualifiers in Argentina.
“At FIFA, women’s football is a top priority, and it is our belief that it should be a top priority for all those in charge of the game across the globe.
“Whether at a confederation, in a member association, in a club or even in an NGO – everyone is responsible for the delivery of the women’s game, for investing in it and for prioritising its growth and development, both on and off the pitch and at all levels of the ecosystem. A sincere thank you and congratulations to CONMEBOL for organising this event, which will play an important role in driving and promoting the further development of the women’s game,” Bareman concluded.
In line with FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategyand ongoing investment in the women’s game between 2019 and 2023, FIFA recently launched the FIFA Women’s Development Programme, which aims to provide all 211 member associations with the opportunity to apply for and access additional resources and specialist expertise to develop women’s football at a national level.