The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has launched its first strategic plan dedicated to women's football.
Vanuatu players line up at the Oceania Under 20 Women's Football Championship. Photo: Oceania Football
The "ALL IN" strategy aims to increase the development, growth, sustainability, and professionalisation of the game, leading to greater performances on the world stage.
Speaking at the official launch in Auckland on Thursday night, OFC's Women's Football Manager Emma Evans, who helped develop the strategy alongside the 11 member associations, said she's excited to see a future where women's football in the Pacific is thriving.
OFC launched their first women's strategy dedicated to women's football in the Pacific. Photo: www.phototek.nz
"Following the announcement of New Zealand and Australia hosting the World Cup, we decided that the time is right now to really create a strategy that will drive the game for women's football in the Pacific," she said.
"You only need to look at the Pacific Games and you know the success that Papua New Guinea's had and football in the women's game to see how close they actually are to New Zealand, and I think with the strategy and with the programmes and the funding that will be in place, we hope that the gap between the Pacific and New Zealand closes."
The strategy has been built on five key pillars to encourage participation, visibility, education, performance and inclusivity, to inspire and empower females across all sectors of the sport.
FIFA's Chief Women's Football Officer Sarai Bareman said providing direction, purpose and guidelines for women's football in Oceania will lay the foundations for achieving their goal of having two competitive teams at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Photo: Photosport
"OFC have made a big statement this evening, they want to have two competitive teams playing at the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2027 and we can't get there by just wishing, we have to have a clear plan and clear steps on how to get there," she said.
"What we want to see in FIFA is that every opportunity that is given to young boys through football, that those same opportunities should be given to young girls, and this strategy will make sure that happens in Oceania and the Pacific."
The former Samoa representative said it's important that voices of the Pacific are heard.
"It's about the people, it's about accountability, and the truth is there's not one thing that will elevate women's football. To really give women's football the attention it deserves, we have to address every single facet of the eco-system of our game, and the OFC's women's football strategy "ALL IN" does exactly this."
It's a crucial time for women's football development, added OFC President, Lambert Maltock.
"The strategy is binding governors and administrators of football to develop the women's game in every aspect and level over the next six years," he said.
"It aligns with our commitment to ensure that we provide as many opportunities as possible for women in the region."
As part of the launch, 11 women's football ambassadors have been appointed to carry out the values of the strategy across Oceania.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said they want to see 60 million girls and women around the world playing football by 2026.
"OFC will continue to celebrate the beautiful cultures, traditions and history of the Pacific as we forge a new path ahead for women's football in Oceania."