Global stars support UEFA's #WePlayStrong campaign
Megan Rapinoe, Pernille Harder and Sari van Veenendaal have joined Shanice van de Sanden, Nadia Nadim and Rocky Hehakaija to discuss some of the biggest challenges in the women’s game in a new football podcast launched by UEFA as part of their #WePlayStrong campaign.
Tackling the most prominent issues across the women’s football landscape, UEFA is launching its first ever pan-European women’s football podcast as part of its Together #WePlayStrong campaign to inspire a new generation of female footballers.
Hosted by Wolfsburg and Netherlands star Shanice van de Sanden, Nadia Nadim of Denmark and PSG and Dutch street football legend Rocky Hehakaija, ‘The Football Podcast’ from UEFA Together #WePlayStrong sees players debate common misconceptions in the women’s game and reveal for the first time their challenging personal experiences whilst playing at the top of the sport.
In ‘The Football Podcast’, club rivalry is put to one side as some of the biggest players from across the world unite to lift the lid on some of the most controversial topics that have surrounded the game for years. From the equal pay debate to whether women should play with smaller footballs or goals, the players candidly share what they believe needs to change to improve the game at all levels, as well as taking a stance against derogatory, misogynistic and gender-biased social media comments.
FIFA Women’s World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Megan Rapinoe and the 2019/2020 UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Pernille Harder (Chelsea and Denmark) also join the line-up, alongside appearances from the Netherlands 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup ‘Golden Glove’ goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal and West Ham Utd and French internationalist Kenza Dali, with more to be announced.
As part of UEFA’s Together #WePlayStrong campaign, the six-part series aims to provide a platform for the game’s most influential players to inform and motivate the young stars of tomorrow to continue aspiring to reach their footballing goals.
Commenting on the launch of the podcast, Van de Sanden said: “When I was starting out in football, there were many hurdles that I had to face every day to simply follow my passion. By placing issues such as gender, race and equality under the microscope, we hope to spark conversations which will empower girls who have had similar experiences to never give up on their footballing dreams.”
“Athletes should be brave and use their platform to stand up and speak up. They should always fight for more, and always inspire. Society glorifies athletes, we have a responsibility to use that shine and spotlight to make the world a better place,” added Rapinoe.
