Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister emphasized the importance of increasing female representation in football leadership at the 2026 IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport. She noted that having women in leadership roles strengthens football by introducing diverse perspectives and bridging gaps between ideas and outcomes. McAllister stated that football could become stronger, more strategic, and impactful with more female participation in decision-making.
Sharing her journey from Wales national team captain to UEFA's first female vice-president, McAllister called for ongoing efforts to help women reach leadership roles and support others in doing the same. She encouraged women to work diligently to access decision-making spaces and to create opportunities for those who follow, stressing that representation must be sustainable, not individual.
On the growth of women's football, McAllister cited recent successes such as the updated UEFA Women's Champions League and rising investment in the sport. She mentioned that in Wales, long-term strategy aimed at qualifying for major tournaments led to reaching UEFA Women's EURO 2025 ahead of expectations, which in turn is boosting grassroots participation.