How UEFA offers game-changing support to European football

The success of UEFA's national and club competitions generates unprecedented financial support for every level of the football pyramid in Europe. By keeping overheads to a minimum, 97% of our net earnings go back into the game.

Almost everyone involved in playing, running or supporting football benefits, from elite to grassroots clubs. Each season, UEFA's Annual and Financial reports highlight how this investment builds new stadiums and academies, grows women's football, trains coaches and referees, strengthens governance, educates young talent, tackles discrimination, kick-starts social and environmental sustainability initiatives and transitions ex-players into new careers.

Increased commitment – almost €1 billion

Every four years, earnings from the men's EURO fund one of global sports largest solidarity programmes – UEFA HatTrick, which helps European associations invest in strategic development and infrastructure projects.

UEFA has committed to increasing HatTrick funds by 21% for the 2024–28 financial cycle, meaning almost €1 billion will be available to help grow the European game.

©PZPN

Funding competitions

UEFA's top competitions make possible other competitions that contribute to the evolution of men's and women's football: Women's EURO and Women's Champions League, European Under-21 Championship, men's and women's Futsal EURO, Futsal Champions League, Youth League, men's and women's European Under-17 and Under-19 Championship, Under-19 Futsal Championship and the amateur Regions' Cup.

Each season, HatTrick payments help associations cover the national team costs of participating in UEFA youth, women's, futsal and amateur competitions.

Under-16 tournaments – adding value on and off the pitch

Our youth player development programme provides up to €56,000 to associations to organise Under-16 boys' and girls' development tournaments, preparing young footballers for the next steps in their nascent careers.

It's a unique opportunity for emerging talents to taste different footballing styles and, just as important, experience new cultures. Benefits can extend beyond European frontiers, with teams from other football confederations and associations sometimes invited to take part.

Women's and girls' football

UEFA investment in women's football has jumped by 50% since 2019, putting our five-year women's football strategy Time for Action firmly on track to achieving its goals.

Positive returns include more opportunities and structures available for women and girls to enjoy football than ever before and support for European associations to raise standards. For example, UEFA's Coach Development Programme for Women offers female coaches scholarships of up to €12,000 to take UEFA diploma courses, as well as training for women coach educators and technical support for women's coaching courses and workshops.

©UEFA

Pandemic relief and recovery

When COVID-19 brought the game to a halt in 2020, European associations, leagues and clubs struggled to cope with the impact of lost ticket sales and broadcast revenue. To help, UEFA advanced HatTrick development funds to associations, while financial fair play rules were adapted to ease the financial pressures on elite clubs.

Club solidarity payments

Each season, UEFA allocates a percentage of income from its top men's and women's club competitions for distribution among non-participating clubs:

For men's clubs, these 'solidarity payments' are earmarked for investment in youth development programmes and/or local community schemes. From 2021/22, associations represented by at least one club in the Women's Champions League are also eligible for solidarity funds to distribute equally among non-participating clubs for investment in developing their women's teams.

Incentive payments

Every year, European associations can apply for HatTrick incentive payments to implement project proposals relating to anti-match-fixing activities, coaching, club licensing, youth player development, grassroots and women's football, good governance, refereeing and social and environmental responsibility.

For example, in 2021/22, the refereeing department at the Lithuania Football Federation received €100,000 in HatTrick funds to run a referee education course, while the Bulgarian Football Union benefitted from a €10,000 grant to support its anti-doping activities.

Other development programmes that support the game

In addition to HatTrick and club solidarity payments, UEFA also supports three other development programmes.

• Grow: ensures associations' football development projects generate a real return on investment.
• Assist: shares the experience and know-how of European football with our five sister confederations, including their regional and member associations.
• UEFA Academy: runs educational and research programmes to help managers, players and specialists build careers in a range of football-related activities.