7 June, Kathmandu. Since launching in 2020, UEFA Playmakers inspired by Disney has provided opportunities for thousands of young girls across Europe to experience the joy of football for the first time, using the magic of Disney storytelling.
This summer, Disney and Pixar’s newest film – Inside Out 2 – will join UEFA Playmakers, with the story of Riley and her emotions providing the perfect platform for girls to engage with their own feelings through Playmakers.
The sequel to the much-loved Inside Out, Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas across Europe from June 14th and returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions.
Inside Out 2 becomes the latest film to join UEFA Playmakers, alongside Disney’s Academy-Award winning animated musical comedy Encanto, Disney and Pixar’s The Incredibles 2, Disney’s Frozen 2 and Disney’s Moana. This is the first time that UEFA have added a film to UEFA Playmakers to coincide with the theatrical release. This comes as a result of the strong collaboration between UEFA and Disney since the programme launched in 2020.
UEFA Playmakers provides a safe, non-competitive environment for girls to develop their fundamental movement skills and self-esteem.
To celebrate the launch of the film, two girls from Wales – Sophia and Esther (both aged 9) – who have taken part in UEFA Playmakers, met Amy Poehler (voice of “Joy”) to share their Playmakers experience and their shared love for football.
“It is really exciting to welcome a brand-new Disney and Pixar film into UEFA Playmakers with Inside Out 2” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA Managing Director of Women’s Football. “We would like to thank Disney and Pixar for their constant partnership in supporting taking UEFA Playmakers to the next level. Inside Out, with a story that celebrates embracing our emotions is the perfect partner for UEFA Playmakers. I am looking forward to hearing the reactions from girls, parents and coaches all across Europe.”
Charlotte Tudor, Vice President, Marketing, Walt Disney Studios EMEA, said: “UEFA Playmakers inspired by Disney continues to grow and flourish all across Europe and it is fantastic to see it play such a key role in the launch of Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 in cinemas. The positive feelings girls, parents and coaches get from taking part in the programme makes the world of Joy and her friends in Inside Out 2 the perfect fit for this collaboration.”
UEFA Playmakers sessions are now held in 47 European national associations in over 5,000 locations. More than 93,200 girls have taken part in the programme that has trained over 6,600 UEFA Playmakers coaches.
Countries taking part in the UEFA Playmakers programme
Seven countries were part of the initial pilot phase in February 2020: Austria, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Romania, Scotland and Serbia.
In less than four years, an additional 40 countries have also joined the programme: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, Wales
SOURCE: UEFA
About UEFA
UEFA is the governing body of European football and a not-for-profit organisation which supports and ensures the world’s most popular sport continues to thrive at all levels across its 55 member associations. As part of its commitment, UEFA invests 97% of its revenue in football-related activities, projects and initiatives that ensure the continued development of the men’s and women’s professional game as well as youth, grassroots and futsal.
