On Saturday 8th March 2025, 35 teams took part in Girls United’s 8th Annual International Women’s Day Adult Tournament at Shoreditch Powerleague, celebrating inclusion, community, and leadership through sport.
The tournament welcomed over 300 players from 35 teams—female, trans, and non-binary—across all skill levels for an afternoon of grassroots football, connection, and celebration.
This year’s campaign theme, From Playground to Pitch, focused on the journey girls take through football, from their first kick in the schoolyard to becoming confident, community leaders. The tournament is part of our wider Girls United mission to empower girls through football by creating inclusive, supportive environments where they can develop confidence, leadership, and technical skills both on and off the pitch.
The overarching theme of Accelerate Action speaks to a global urgency. At the current rate, it will take 134 years to achieve gender equality. We believe sport is one of the fastest, most effective tools for closing that gap-equipping girls with confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that extend far beyond the pitch.
Matches ran throughout the sunny afternoon and were supported by volunteers and referees from across the football community. Our partners from Lloyd’s Women’s Football Club, Amwins Global Risks, and Everest Insurance International® joined us on the day, sharing their commitment to a more inclusive sporting landscape.
Romina Calatayud, Girls United Founder and CEO, said:
“As women’s football has grown, so has our tournament. We can’t get enough pitches to fit all the teams that sign up these days. It shows how much people value the spaces we’re creating—where everyone belongs and the game is for everyone.”
Alongside the action on the pitch, a fundraising raffle raised money to support our community pricing model. This helps ensure anyone who wants to play can access football, regardless of background or income.
This year’s Girls United IWD celebrations were bigger than ever with a youth event taking place at Alleyn’s School the same day, youth and adult events in Mexico, and an Accelerate Action event hosted with King’s College, bringing the Girls United Methodology to life in focusing on the economic, cultural and individual value of women in football.
We’re proud to continue building inclusive spaces that empower people to play, lead, and grow. The IWD Tournament is one of many touch points in our year-round work across London and Mexico, bridging play and purpose every step of the way.
