2024/25 was a remarkable year for Polish football. They will now be competing in their first major tournament this summer after qualifying via the playoffs.
The head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) announced they had filed a bid for this Euro final back in 2021, saying that women’s football had grown in popularity in the country, but were edged out by Switzerland to host.
The PZPN launched “Time for us”. A 4-year-long initiative in 2022 to promote women’s football in the country with four priority areas to focus on, these being:
Participation
This is to increase the participation of women and girls in football. Creating a welcoming environment which is safe for this group is crucial so women and girls across Poland can feel empowered and develop important life skills and gain confidence. It becomes essential to recognise that no woman or girl in Poland should give up their passion for football.
Professionalism
Raising the profile of women’s football in Poland is critically important to the PZPN in aiding that comfortable environment they set out before. They also aim to seek maximum investments by generating a new revenue stream to ensure the women’s game is self-sustaining to create a worthwhileness in investment showing its enormous potential in the country.
Visibility & Image
This area is all about making sure there is the best possible media exposure of women’s football matches in Poland. This ensures that a commitment will be made to overcome any prejudices or stereotypes which others may have about the women’s game. Showing women in football is the best way to develop role models for future generations.
Education & Awareness
Women’s involvement in football has never been plain sailing and it is important to recognise potential barriers which become inevitable. PZPN will ensure that they create gender awareness and education related to erasing as many of these limitations as possible.
Not only this, but as part of the PZPN strategy for 2020-2025, the development of women’s football is one of the key pillars. The Polish women’s team has been broadcast on TV consistently since 2021. The competition will also be broadcast so Poland will be able to watch their team in a women’s major tournament for the first time ever.
Serious work has gone into shaping the game in Poland to make sure women and girls are given a space to play and get involved and qualifying for this tournament is the icing on the cake which will encourage these girls to further take up football.
The women’s game in Poland is seriously on the rise and seeing active engagement in the growth of this aspect of football is an incredible sight to see. With names like Ewa Pajor already making a name for herself on the European stage in the Champions League, she is a real role model for women and girls across Poland.
