Why women’s football needs infrastructure to match its momentum

The UK government’s pledge to double access to grassroots facilities for women and girls, alongside the creation of a Women’s Sport Taskforce, is a welcome statement of intent. It acknowledges both the growing momentum behind women’s football and the need to broaden participation, with a focus on creating safe, welcoming and accessible facilities at existing grassroots sites.

It’s relatively easy to see where local pitches or school sports programmes fall short, but much less attention is paid to the glaring lack of elite-level infrastructure. If the UK wants to lead the women’s game, now is the time to move on from shared and adapted venues and deliver purpose-built, world-class facilities that attracts international athletes and drives commercial investment.

It’s widely recognised that elite-level athletes begin their journeys at grassroots level, making local facilities the foundation for long-term success. But to truly support that pathway, those facilities must meet a basic standard.

At community and school level, expanding access to essentials like changing facilities, flood lights, goalposts, clubhouses and 3G pitches would have a significant local impact. Delivered collectively, these upgrades would not only help meet growing demand but also create more inclusive and diverse opportunities. Investing in better grassroots infrastructure will strengthen participation and progression routes, not only for players but also for coaches and referees at every level, right across the country.

The use of shared facilities has been widely supported by both players and fans. It has served as a crucial stepping stone and a live test case demonstrating the reality of demand for the women’s game. With a 56% increase in women and girls now playing football, the need for diverse and expanded infrastructure is undeniable.

As the UK’s fifth most attended sport and with commercial investment growing, the next decade could, and should, focus on developing elite-level infrastructure. This will unlock greater opportunities for women and girls to play at all levels.

Women’s football is more than just 90 minutes on the pitch. For both players and fans, it’s an immersive experience. We must now strive to create environments that support them fully, from grassroots to elite, and enable the game to reach its full potential.

While the government’s pledge signals intent, what’s missing is a clean commitment to infrastructure. Whether you’re looking through the lens of a player, where infrastructure means new pitches, changing facilities, elite training centres or stadiums, or from a fan’s perspective, with needs like fan zones, hospitality, improved access, or media opportunities. The current plan stops short of addressing these needs.

To support the FA’s goals, the priority is simple – create more opportunities for women and girls to play football. That requires not just policy pledges, but tangible investment – upgrading existing facilities and building new ones that meet today’s demand and enable future growth.

To deliver a Women’s World Cup 2035 that sets a global benchmark, the UK needs a decade-long delivery programme backed by significant new funding. Success will also depend on the active support of national sports bodies, local authorities, and key stakeholders to remove barriers and ensure progress.

The fanbase, talent, and collective commitment already exist, but what’s missing is delivery. If we start now, 2035 could be remembered not just as the year the UK hosted the Women’s World Cup, but as the moment the UK became the true home of women’s and girls’ football, a place where every player in the world aspires to play.