This October, Girls United marked International Day of the Girl with a series of events across London and Mexico - each designed to spotlight the Power to Play and the pathways in football that help players move, play and thrive.

Over five days, players, coaches, and partners came together to celebrate progress, create new opportunities, and continue driving our mission forward: making football accessible to every girl who wants to play.

Building Confidence in Kennington

The celebrations began on 8 October with a Play Like a Girl session at Kennington Park, focused on confidence building and player recruitment.

Nineteen girls took part, including five attending for the first time. Led by volunteer coaches Yara and Emily, the group worked through a carousel of stations focused on attacking, defending, and ball mastery - creating visible moments of growth in just one session.

The afternoon ended with a full match and gift bags for players who best demonstrated teamwork and persistence.

“I learnt some new dribbling skills from Emily, she taught us how to wobble the ball between our feet. I feel more confident because I was a goalie and I hadn't done it before but my teammates made me feel really good about being in goal. The sessions are really fun and my teammates, including my cousin, make me feel really happy and make me laugh.” Ibtisam, age 10

Love the Game at Dulwich College

On 10 October, more than 120 girls from nine schools in our Love the Game programme gathered at Dulwich College for a full day of matches, encouragement, and celebration.

The event captured what Love the Game represents - giving girls regular access to football in schools, while helping teachers and players build inclusive sporting environments.

We’re now inviting more schools to join the programme and take part in future tournaments that promote teamwork, participation, and fun over competition.

Make Football Accessible

On 11 October, we hosted our annual Make Football Accessible Match at Merky FC HQ. Thirty players, seven mascots, three referees, and two team managers took part - supported by friends, family, and our community of partners.

The match raised £3,750 for Girls United’s Community Pricing Programme, helping to ensure that girls across South London can access sessions for as little as £1 per season.

“Playing as a team for such a meaningful event - and having my children cheering me on - was incredible.”

We’re grateful to everyone who made the event possible:

  • Minaa Simone

  • Chinonso Chinaka

  • BCOMS

  • Mamma Dough

  • Marks & Spencer

  • Morrisons

  • Five Star Trophies

  • Southprints

Matchday Inspiration with London City Lionesses

On 12 October, Girls United players attended London City Lionesses vs West Ham as part of our Sister Club partnership.

Players had the chance to meet goalkeeper Sophia Poor, take part in pre-match activities, and see professional women’s football up close - reinforcing that the pathways they’re building through Girls United can lead to opportunities at every level of the game.

Expanding Opportunities in Mexico

Across the Atlantic, our Ama el Juego (Love the Game) programme in Iztapalapa hosted International Day of the Girl festivals with the same goal: increasing girls’ participation in football through community engagement.

At Utopía Meyehualco in Mexico City, 99 girls and 90 parents and guardians joined a free five-a-side tournament with support from 8 staff members and 4 volunteers from the community. Fifteen teams representing local schools competed in a positive, family-supported environment where the emphasis was on enjoyment and inclusion.

Winning teams included Dragones de Villa Cid, Primaria Fabián García, and Gossi Fútbol, with all participants receiving certificates and prizes.

"There were a lot of games, but we're doing what we love most on our day. It's like a birthday." – Alexa, Gossi Fútbol

Special thanks to Embajada de Estados Unidos, Utopía Meyehualco, Gossi Fútbol, and La Corona Sports Media for their collaboration and support.

A Shared Commitment

From London to Mexico, these events reflected the same core principle - that every girl should have access to spaces where she feels confident, supported, and free to play.

International Day of the Girl is more than a celebration. It’s a reminder of why Girls United exists and why we’ll continue to build programmes that create pathways for girls to thrive on and off the pitch