FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ legacy initiative Coach Education Programme concludes in Goa

The inaugural Goa edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ legacy initiative, Coach Education Scholarship Programme, concluded with 23 aspiring coaches – all females – completing an E-License grassroots course to become officially certified football coaches.  

This, the thirteenth edition of the programme, conducted by the Local Organising Committee of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa, was held between 9^th and 12^th September 2022.

Project Director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™, Nandini Arora, attended the closing ceremony and said, “We are extremely pleased to provide a platform for women’s football to develop and this initiative will leave a lasting impact on the football ecosystem of Goa.

“While understanding nuances of football coaching, the participants will also gain leadership qualities from this course and become role models for young female footballers from their local communities.”  

She went on to express her gratitude to the stakeholders, saying, “The Goa government and Goa Sports Department have been extremely proactive and forthcoming with everything related to the tournament. We are looking forward to conducting more courses here, and creating a bigger pool of female coaches.”

Envisioned and conceptualized by the LOC for the tournament, the Coach Education Scholarship Programme has not just benefitted the graduating participants but also those who have been coached by the officially certified coaches.

The graduates of the various editions of this programme are subsequently serving as role models and inspirational figures, encouraging more girls in their local communities to start playing football. Some participants, from remote districts, are pioneering female participation in the game, thus changing the culture and lives of young girls.

This legacy initiative of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ has also aided in the rehabilitation of certain participants who have found an alternate career opportunity through the beautiful game.

The biennial youth tournament, scheduled to be held between 11^th and 30^th October 2022, will see the best young female footballers across the world showcase their talent in India and tickets for the same are now live. Click here to be part of the historic event.

Hosts India – drawn alongside USA, Morocco and Brazil – will be playing all of their group stage games at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar,