Historic Milestone: Poland Unveils Official Women’s Football Strategy

Poland officially unveiled its national strategy for women’s football on Thursday, marking a historic moment for the sport in the country. The event, originally scheduled for November last year, had been postponed due to a roof collapse at PGE Narodowy. Despite the delay, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) pressed ahead, completing a supplement to the National Game Model specifically focused on women’s football. A dedicated segment of Thursday’s launch featured a conversation with Nina Patalon, head coach of the women’s national team, technical coordinator for women’s football, and one of the eleven authors of the supplement.

Growing Support and Investment

Earlier this year, PKN Orlen became the title sponsor of the Ekstraliga, Poland’s top women’s league, as well as the 1st League and the Polish Women’s Cup. Łukasz Wachowski, PZPN Secretary General, said: “PKN Orlen has recognised the potential of women’s football. Research shows that it is the fastest-growing sport globally, so our partner’s support was immediate and enthusiastic.”

UEFA’s Emma Sykes, development manager for women’s football, also highlighted the sport’s enormous potential: “The increase in girls playing football recreationally, women turning professional, the number of transfers, and sponsorships shows that the ceiling has yet to be reached. Our study indicates women’s football could grow sixfold commercially over the next decade. This is an extremely optimistic prospect.”

A Special Event

Hosted by TVP Sport journalist Sylwia Dekiert, the launch welcomed distinguished guests, including Anna Krupka, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, representatives from UEFA and FIFA, and PZPN President Cezary Kulesza, who emphasised the importance of women’s football as a pillar of Polish sport.

Zuzanna Walczak, PZPN’s women’s football development coordinator, spoke of the strategy’s mission: “Our aim is to make football a sport where every girl and woman can fulfil herself—not only as a player, but also as a coach, referee, or official. Today, we introduced the four key areas of action for women’s football development.” Walczak also shared a personal anecdote, recalling that as a child she dreamed of playing for the national team, unaware that a women’s team even existed. She expressed hope that the new strategy would prevent similar situations for future generations.

Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s Managing Director of Women’s Football and the world’s best female player in 2014, delivered a video message praising Poland’s efforts. “Poland is one of the countries with its own women’s football strategy. I am confident the sport is in good hands here and has a bright future,” she said.

Four Key Areas of Focus

The event featured panel discussions addressing the four priority areas of the strategy:

1. Participation: Anna Krupka, Adam Kaźmierczak (PZPN Vice-President for Amateur Football), Przemysław Prętkiewicz (Grassroots Director), and Klaudia Bodecka (sports psychologist and coach at Legia Warszawa) highlighted the importance of promoting football among girls from an early age. “Statistics show physical activity among girls can be up to twice as low as among boys,” said Krupka, noting a record PLN 504 million allocated to grassroots sport this year. Bodecka emphasised the impact of programmes like UEFA Playmakers on building confidence, while Prętkiewicz stressed the role of football in developing character.

2. Professionalisation: Łukasz Wachowski, Grzegorz Stefanowicz (PZPN Women’s Football Director), Weronika Możejko (AP Orlen Gdańsk spokesperson), and Katarzyna Wierzbowska (former international referee) discussed raising professional standards. Możejko noted the lack of visible role models and outlined licensing requirements designed to accelerate development. Stefanowicz highlighted ongoing projects that advance professionalisation.

3. Visibility and Image: Aleksandra Rosiak (PZPN Communications Director), Katarzyna Haczewska (researcher at WeFind), Marek Szkolnikowski (TVP Sport Director), and journalist Paweł Gołaszewski discussed increasing exposure for female players. TV broadcasts now include all national team matches and one Ekstraliga fixture per round. Haczewska stressed tackling stereotypes that view football as a male-dominated sport, while Rosiak highlighted the importance of telling inspiring stories to influence parents and communities.

4. Education and Awareness: Nina Patalon, Monika Grygorowicz (Head of Women’s Football Science Research), Ewa Szmitka (coach and activist), and Zbigniew Bartnik (PZPN management board) emphasised understanding the needs of women and girls. Patalon and Szmitka shared personal experiences, highlighting the barriers girls have historically faced and the importance of structured pathways to maintain engagement in football.

Looking Ahead

Patalon summarised the event: “We have the tools, the people, the passion, and the ideas needed to move forward. This meeting highlighted not only the strategy but also the many talented women dedicated to football development in Poland.”

Łukasz Wachowski added that informal networking and backstage discussions demonstrated the commitment and enthusiasm of all involved. Emma Sykes concluded: “Poland now has a clear direction for women’s football. The strategy is a remarkable achievement, and I am impressed by the organisation and the collaborative approach demonstrated today.”