During the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Festival 23 will showcase football for good’s contribution to a more equal world and inspire everyone in the game to play their part. Driven by the power and inclusive spirit of women’s football, we have the opportunity to create awareness and tackle critical issues facing the world. To address them, Festival 23 will deliver eight days of workshops, football for good community activities, and public events. The Festival is hosted by Football United in Sydney, Australia, the host city of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.

Over the course of 8 days, 70 women leaders aged 18-30 from Australia, New Zealand and 40 countries around the world will take part on a number of activities including capacity building workshops, cross-cultural activities, and implementation of a football for good tournament that will engage 2,500 participants during the festival Festival 23 will create a multiplier effect of positive social change across international and local communities in Australia. A legacy worth building, with a potential impact on tens of thousands of young people over the years to come.


Festival 23 Key Impact Areas: 

• Gender Equity:  Equal opportunities for women is a necessity at the forefront of the festival. Providing leadership opportunities at various levels allows us to inspire and promote participation and engagement amongst staff, volunteers, and youth throughout the duration of the festival’s activities and in future endeavours
• Environmental Action: Engaging in responsible environmental practices is vital to promote education, mediation, and ongoing intervention amongst our festival’s participants. To pledge to undertake mindful selection, treatment and disposal of all activities and items
• Youth Employability: Providing opportunities for youth to showcase their skills in jobs that bring value to Festival23 whilst giving a sense of achievement to the individual. This goal will allow us to create positions to impart skills and experiences that offer the chance for participants to acquire aptitudes to prepare for future pathways.
• Equal opportunities for all: By advocating for the inclusion of all participants regardless of age, sex, gender, orientation, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or socio-economic status. This acceptance and celebration will allow for respectful involvement and contributions to the coordination and enactment of the festival.

Young Leader Programme 

70 women delegates from 40 countries will be part of a multifaceted youth program designed to amplify the impact of women’s football working as a catalyst to tackle global challenges. The participants will develop critical understanding in four main topics:

• Gender equity
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Climate action
• Youth employability

In addition, young leaders will have the opportunity to take part in cultural exchange opportunities on and off the pitch, lead sessions in communities and experience the FIFA Women’s Cup.

Football for Good Forum 

Role models bringing systemic change in the organization, on the sidelines, on the pitch and in the community/fan culture The festival week will culminate with the Football for Good Forum, collaborative space designed to communicate and embed the positive impact women’s football can have as a driver towards a more just and equal society. The forum will see the participation of women acting as role models in all levels in football (organisations, sidelines, pitch and community).

• We want to inspire every young women to imagine themselves as leaders in football, and to believe that there is a place for them in the orgs, on the sidelines, on the pitch and across football broadly.
• We also want to send a key message; they can’t do it alone, it is on all of us to make it possible and pave the way towards true equal opportunities

Fair Play Tournament 

Local youth will have the opportunity to take part in football for good activities organised by the young leaders including:

• Community activation days in ten different communities in and around Sydney.
• A fair-play football tournament with mixed teams and celebrating the power of the game.