On behalf of the Croatian Football Federation, the conference was attended by Dunja Štokan, acting instructor at the Rijeka Regional Center for Women’s Football.

The UEFA Playmakers programme in Croatia, launched in 2022, is aimed at girls aged 5 to 8. Training sessions are designed around Disney stories, using a non-competitive and playful approach to encourage girls to engage with football.

In Croatia, the UEFA Playmakers programme is already in its fourth season. In the just concluded 2024/25 cycle, a total of 452 girls participated across the country. About 65 % of participants had never previously played football, while 40 % had already taken part in earlier Playmakers cycles. Each Playmakers centre cooperates with a local women’s football club, enabling a smoother transition of interested girls into regular club training.

UEFA and Disney have extended the programme until 2027, underlining its long-term vision and institutional support for this model of women’s football development.