National Lottery to support the Big Football Day to inspire grassroots game during the EUROs

The FA’s Big Football Day is set to return this summer to bring the grassroots community together and offer more opportunities for women and girls across the country to get involved in football during UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.

Originally launched to coincide with England’s opening game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, this year’s Big Football Day will run throughout the duration of UEFA Women's EURO 2025, and will be supported by investment from The National Lottery.

From Newcastle to Newquay, grassroots clubs from across the country will be getting involved with Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery to cheer on the Lionesses, whilst highlighting the importance of unlocking equal opportunities for women and girls to access football. From taster sessions to watch parties for England games, clubs will be encouraged to bring their community together to inspire more women and girls to get into football both on and off the pitch.

With the number of girls playing football more than doubling since UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery aims to build on the momentum generated by England participating in a major tournament to continue to grow the women’s and girls’ game. The events will form part of the FA’s Made for this Game campaign, which was launched to support the drive to unlock equal opportunities for all women and girls in football, whilst showing it is a sport where they belong.

Sue Day, director of women’s football at the FA, said: “We know the power of a major tournament to unite the nation and inspire participation. Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery will be at the heart of the FA’s plans to capture the EURO 2025 spirit at home and encourage women and girls of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to give football a go. Running throughout what we hope will be another special summer, this is a key opportunity for us to show football is a sport where all women and girls belong. The progress that has been made across the game over this recent historic period wouldn’t have been possible without the investment from The National Lottery.”

The initiative is an extension of The National Lottery’s long-standing support and £65 million commitment to grow women and girls' football over the last decade, which also provided funding for the FA’s UEFA EURO Legacy Programme after the historic tournament in 2022.

Adam Chataway, head of partnerships at National Lottery operator Allwyn, said: “At The National Lottery we are proud that our players have been at the forefront of backing women and girls' sport for over 30 years. Thanks to them, over the last decade in excess of £65m of National Lottery funding has been committed to support the growth of women’s football.

“We are delighted to further emphasise that commitment through Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery. This exciting collaboration with the FA will ensure that girls in communities across the nation get yet more opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game in what promises to be a memorable summer for women’s sport.”

Big Football Day powered by The National Lottery will get underway as soon as the EUROs begin on Wednesday 2 July, with a key focus on England’s group stage fixtures against France (Saturday 5 July), Netherlands (Wednesday 9 July) and Wales (Sunday 13 July). To find out more information on how your local club can participate, click here.