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June 21, 2024
With EURO 2024 in progress in Germany, UEFA is celebrating 20 years of its HatTrick program. With a goal to improve sport and society, the program redistributes two-thirds of the men’s tournament net revenue to national member associations to invest in football development projects across Europe.
HatTrick was created in 2004 and since then has helped to build football infrastructure, run development and training programs and implement UEFA standards. After 20 years and five tournaments, €2.6 billion has gone to more than 800 projects. Over the next four years, €935 million of EURO 2024 revenue will go back into the game – 21% more than in 2020. Funded infrastructure projects include environmental initiatives addressing waste reduction, renewable energy transition and sustainable construction. Social projects include eliminating discrimination, improving mental health, supporting refugees, safeguarding children and more.
Before the start of each four-year HatTrick funding cycle, UEFA collects feedback from across the football community. Locally, the program pays for mini-pitches, club development, coaches training and grassroots initiatives that provide opportunities for people to get involved in the game regardless of age, gender, economic ability or ethnicity. Nationally, it helps Europe’s 55 national football associations build stadiums and training centers and invest in those that will use them. Through the program, more than 1000 pitches and 3000 mini-pitches have been built, 34 training centers developed and over 60% of Europe’s stadiums have been refurbished.
UEFA stated that the success of the EURO’s is not only determined by the tournament outcome but also by the four-year impact across projects and the success stories they create. For the anniversary, the governing body is inviting people to speak on their first-hand experience of the project and how it has helped change their lives and communities. The stories offer a reminder of sport and football’s potential to make society a better place. Here are some of them:
- Pressing German football’s sustainability accelerator
- Portugal’s City of Football: foundations for a national success story
- Albania’s football fortress: build it and success will come
- Varsha’s story: football’s power to break cultural barriers
- Referee skills open gateway to new life for Iraqi asylum seeker in Iceland
“The program goes beyond financial aid,” said Armen Melikbekyan, president of the Football Federation of Armenia. “For me, supporting football development at all levels across Europe helps to foster a deeper connection between communities and the game. It promotes a sense of unity that strengthens all of our society.”
UEFA’s investment is supplemented by associations, clubs, governments and local authorities. According to the organization, Hat Trick has become one of the largest solidarity and development initiatives in sport.
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