FIFA and AFD continue to improve gender equality and education in football

Avatar
Image credit: FIFA official website

FIFA and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU), focusing on women’s empowerment and education through football.

Since the first agreement which was signed in 2019, FIFA and the AFD will continue to supply resources to promote unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values through youth-oriented football development programmes, especially in Africa. They will also work on projects involving the protection of children and the promotion of access to sport through the development of infrastructure.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke about the renewed agreement:

“I am very happy that we will continue our strategic alliance with the Agence Française de Développement as it will play an important role in helping us use football as a platform for positive change in society- one of FIFA’s strategic objectives,” he said via media release.

“FIFA and the AFD have many shared aims and by working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of young people, empowering girls and women and helping to provide better education opportunities.”

AFD Cheif Executive Officer Rémy Rioux added in a statement:

“This new partnership agreement with FIFA demonstrates our common desire to unite on the same team, the world football and that of financial development. Through its impact on education, health, social cohesion and gender equality, football is an accelerator in the field of sustainable development,” he said.

“It opens a space where young people and communities are at the centre of the game to learn, express themselves, and emancipate themselves. By continuing this commitment, we are kicking off, through football, new educational and inclusive perspectives for all.”

This continued partnership will allow improved collaboration between AFD’s interventions and FIFA’s programmes, such as FIFA Forward and Football for Schools, which aims to make football more accessible for everyone to play. It will also allow them to pursue their engagement in the inclusive sport academies project which supports the development of sport academies in Africa.

Previous ArticleNext Article

A-Leagues partners with Champion Data to enhance broadcast experience

Avatar
Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has appointed Champion Data as its official broadcast graphics partner in a three-season agreement designed to enhance coverage of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women. The partnership will introduce Champion Data’s live graphics technology across broadcasts on Network 10 and Paramount+, delivering real-time statistics, scores and visual insights to help fans follow the action.

Champion Data will use its proprietary GGi platform to connect match data with broadcast graphics and production workflows. The system will support the delivery of clear, engaging information throughout matches, giving viewers greater insight into key moments and performances. The agreement also strengthens the APL’s commitment to improving the broadcast presentation of women’s football. Champion Data will bring the Ninja A-League Women’s production standards into alignment with the men’s competition, supporting a more consistent viewing experience across both leagues.

The APL expects the partnership to enrich its broadcast offering as audiences seek deeper insights and more engaging ways to follow Australian football. The new graphics package will help viewers understand match developments, track statistics and connect with the stories unfolding on the pitch. Champion Data will manage technical delivery, train broadcast operators and provide live matchday support throughout the agreement. This end-to-end approach will help production teams deliver accurate information and consistent graphics across both competitions.

The partnership builds on Champion Data’s experience in sports data collection, analytics and broadcast technology. They currently provide statistics for the AFL, V8 Supercars and Tennis Australia alongside many others. By integrating live match information with on-screen graphics, the company will help bring the tactical detail and drama of A-Leagues football to television and streaming audiences.

As the APL continues to develop its broadcast product across television and digital platforms. The partnership positions Champion Data as a key technology provider for the next three seasons. The collaboration will combine data expertise and broadcast innovation to improve how fans experience Australian football, bringing greater clarity, context and insight to every match.

Sydney Derby viewership revealed as Network 10 back football on primary channel

Avatar
Image Credits: A-League

Friday night’s opening fixture of the 2026/27 A-League Men’s season reached reached an audience of 434,000 people nationally across the free-to-air 10 Network. Less than a week on from the 207,000 that watched the Australia Cup final, it represents further reason to be cautiously optimistic about the season ahead.

Network 10 broadcast the Sydney Derby on it’s primary station, as opposed to last season’s airing on 10 Drama. The shift gives the opening match of the season a more prominent place on free-to-air television; whether the network continues to select choice matches to enjoy this status remains to be seen.

The figures show a positive trend in comparison to January’s meeting of the same sides, which attracted total broadcast audience of 114,000 and a national reach of 258,000 on Channel 10. Both matches faced fierce TV competition with January’s match rivalling the Australian Open on Nine and the 2026/2027 opener with the 2026 Men’s & Women’s Rugby League World Cup airing matches across the Seven Network on the same night.

The opening-round figure offers an early indication of the audience the competition can attract. Future rounds will show whether the A-League can maintain that reach across the season. The league will also look to convert that television exposure into sustained interest in its clubs and matches. Strong viewing figures can help strengthen the case for football in the Australian sporting market.

For now, the 434,000 national audience alongside strong attendance at the Australia Cup final provides a positive starting point for the 2026/27 campaign. The next challenge is to build on that audience as the season progresses.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend