Celebrating IWD 2026 and the rise of women's football
International Women’s Day 2026 falls this Sunday, 8 March, focusing on the global theme of Give to Gain. This theme explores how giving our time, mentorship, and resources to women and girls creates a monumental gain for society as a whole.
Having grown with women’s football for the past decade, firstly with Soccerella (the UK’s first retailer dedicated to women’s football) and then with Ignite Talent, I resonate strongly with the theme and its value to the continued growth of our sport. By its nature, women’s football has a near-infinite talent pool of top-tier professionals - former, current and future - who are hungry to learn and approach any opportunities with the same elite dedication and positive energy they give on-the-pitch. If we can invest in educating, mentoring and coaching these individuals, the potential impact on women’s football (and, by association, on society, given sport’s far-reaching influence) is seismic.
How women’s football is upskilling the next generation of leaders
“International Women’s Day reminds me of the strong women and role models in my life.”
Amalie Vangsgaard, Juventus and Denmark Women’s National Team
Increasingly, we see players upskilling themselves in preparation for future roles - whether coaching, leadership positions, in the media and even outside the sport. For example, the mentorship approach adopted by both UEFA and FIFA (for which Nils Nielsen has been a mentor for both) has helped to develop the initial pool of qualified female Pro License coaches who are now becoming increasingly visible at the top level of the sport.
At the same time, an increased female presence in the boardrooms of clubs, leagues, federations and some of the world’s largest brands is influencing decision-making in a new way and helping to evolve an exciting future for women’s football. This upskilling is supported by great programs including:
UEFA’s Masters for International Players (MIP), a programme which exposes former senior internationals to 8 pillars of the sport (e.g. commercial and marketing, competition design, financial planning, etc.). UEFA offers bursaries to ensure that former female players can afford the course fees.
VISA’s The Second Half programme, which supports current players to understand the transferability and value of the skills developed during their playing career, and provides each participant with a mentor to support their preparation for a post-playing career.
The Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) in the UK, an early-stage vocational education programme studied by many of the best young players in the England talent pathway, and helps to broaden their understanding of the wider ecosystem.
However, perhaps the biggest example of the value of investing in women is seen in the Title IX regulation which was introduced in the USA in 1972. Title IX mandated gender equity in sports in educational settings, increasing investment in female student-athletes and creating the favourable conditions which have driven the growth of women’s football (women’s soccer) into the modern industry that we know it today.
The continued importance of International Women’s Day
To celebrate the occasion, we spoke to some of the players and coaches igniting our sport to capture what the day represents for them.
“International Women’s Day is about recognising progress, but never settling — continuing to break barriers, create opportunities, and make sure every girl knows she belongs.”
Leah Blayney, Assistant Coach, Japan Women’s National team
In the past year, Leah has joined the UEFA MIP as one of an increasingly-female cohort, expanding her understanding and ability to influence the wider women’s football ecosystem. Within her role, Leah supports the next generation of Japanese female coaches as they develop their coaching skillsets, to expand their confidence and opportunities.
“International Women’s Day offers a reminder that progress is driven by those who dare to speak up and pave the way. It’s a day to celebrate the women who have shaped my world and to recognise the collective strength we find in lifting each other up. When we create space for women to lead, we don’t just change the narrative, we lift everyone.”
Rikke Sevecke, Assistant Coach, HB Køge Women
Since Rikke’s sudden playing retirement (after discovering a heart condition), she has forged a bold new path, joining VISA’s The Second Half programme, speaking at organisations including the Hjerteforeningen (Danish Heart Foundation) and Vestas (a top-five Danish company), starting her coaching career, and also supporting our journey at Ignite Talent.
How the Movement aligns with our Vision
The idea of Give To Gain is core to our vision developed at the outset of Ignite Talent in 2017. ignite has taken the bold path to focus exclusively on the unique requirements of the women’s game and our "why" is rooted in this very philosophy: we believe that by providing the specialised, elite-level focus that women’s football deserves, we can create better outcomes and a better, stronger and more sustainable future for the sport.
As we approach a decade of Ignite Talent, we're proud that our three founding principles (and key differentiators) reinforce our position in the sport:
Keep a singular focus on women’s football to allow the best decisions to be made: By keeping the focus 100% on women’s football, we find that greater expertise can be formed, and decisions can be taken that achieve the best outcomes for the sport. For the rest, we see it can be difficult to prioritise the best interests of women’s football, whether that’s due to financial gain, prioritisation of resources or misaligned incentive structures that impede creativity. World-class players deserve world-class outcomes.
Invest in and empower females to make an impact in their sport: While we work with elite male coaches in women’s football, we are supporting the next generation of female coaches including Lydia Bedford and Leah Blayney, as well as helping former players Rikke Sevecke and Rachel Furness to transition into coaching roles. Similarly, when we’ve looked to build our agency, we’ve looked toward female talent who can support us with their vision and ideas while also developing their professional toolkits, thus growing the future potential within the sport.
Support partners who want to support the growth of the sport: We work intensively with media publications and sponsors who are working hard to platform the sport and champion the incredible talent within it. By giving them the tools to do their job, they will significantly broaden the reach and visibility of the sport. We all win.
While we continue to challenge ourselves to evolve at Ignite Talent, we are comforted that the principles underpinning our growth continue to be demonstrated by the boldest individuals and most dynamic organisations transforming women’s football in 2026. This also reinforces that we are on the right path.
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The theme of IWD 2026 therefore offers a fantastic guiding light for organisations looking to enhance their position in women’s football and beyond: invest in and develop female talent and give them the tools to set the course for the future. Their engagement, collaboration, drive and results will be sure to impress.
Here’s to celebrating another year of progress, in women’s football, sport and society, alongside and amongst some of the world’s most talented and impressive women. And greater steps to come in the year ahead.
Ashley Brown
Founder, Ignite Talent
