Launched in Paris in August, the inaugural FIFA Player Impact Programme brought together 14 of the world’s most influential women’s footballers for a pilot initiative aimed at a clear, central mission: empowering players to use their platforms, voices, and influence to create meaningful social impact.
Featuring FIFA Women’s World Cup™ champions, iconic former players, and current stars, the programme enabled participants to design and lead their own impact-driven projects. Each initiative is rooted in personal experience, with players choosing causes ranging from advancing female leadership and supporting single mothers to expanding access to girls’ football academies.
By converting individual influence into structured social action, the programme reflects FIFA’s broader commitment to expanding access and opportunity for women and girls worldwide.
Following an initial three-day workshop in Paris, players received three months of tailored coaching supported by FIFA and a leading external expert in sport-related social impact. This structure ensured participants had the strategic tools needed to transform their passion into practical community programmes.
For Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan, the project carries deeply personal significance. Raised in Toronto by a single mother as the youngest of seven girls, Buchanan is using her platform to provide support to single-parent households through her newly launched foundation.
“My foundation is built to create pathways through soccer,” she explained. “We’ll be able to cover registration fees, travel costs, and also provide mentorship. Growing up, my mother had to rely on the community for support, and that’s what helped me get to where I am today.”
After completing their coaching phase, the 14 participants gathered in London this month to pitch their initiatives to a panel comprising FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis, former Afghanistan international and foundation founder Khalida Popal, and philanthropist Olivia Hall of the Firebird Collective. The presentations triggered seed funding from FIFA, enabling players to begin implementing their projects.
Ellis praised the depth and purpose of the initiatives: “I’m blown away by how thoughtful and meaningful these projects are. The players have established their legacy on the pitch — this programme helps them build one off it. The common thread is their desire to make a difference in their communities.”
"This is football’s power in action,” she added. “It’s about uniting people and using the sport as a force for good. Creating access and opportunity is at the heart of what FIFA aims to do.”
For many participants, the programme represents the fulfilment of a long-held ambition to use their careers as a springboard for social progress. With FIFA’s guidance, they are receiving strategic coaching, financial support, and global visibility to scale their initiatives.
England forward Alessia Russo described the programme as “an incredible opportunity,” highlighting the collaborative environment among the participating players:
“It’s inspiring to hear everyone’s stories and passions. I’ve always wanted to make an impact away from the pitch, and this programme gives us the tools to bring those ideas to life,” said Russo, whose initiative, Power Her Play, focuses on empowering girls to play with confidence, learn with intention, and live with purpose.
For FIFA Women’s World Cup winner and Gotham FC defender Tierna Davidson, who has spent much of the year recovering from injury, the programme has given renewed purpose.
“It’s incredibly difficult to launch something from scratch,” Davidson explained. “Having FIFA’s support for that first step is invaluable.”
Through its pilot cohort, the FIFA Player Impact Programme is helping some of the sport’s most recognisable names convert personal stories into community impact — reinforcing the idea that football’s influence extends far beyond the pitch.
