February 5 – UEFA has unveiled ‘Take Care’, an ambitious new programme aimed at harnessing football’s social influence to promote healthier lifestyles, particularly among young people.
The latest addition to UEFA’s Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, Take Care aims to underscore football’s potential as a force for good beyond the pitch, addressing key health and well-being challenges through education and engagement.
The initiative provides national associations, leagues, clubs, and schools with resources to guide key influencers -parents, teachers, coaches, and staff – toward fostering healthier habits. The programme will roll out six interconnected modules across 2025, covering physical activity, nutrition, mental health, digital addiction, substance awareness, and road safety. Each module will include a scientific white paper, posters, a podcast, a documentary, and an educational session.
The first module, focusing on physical activity, will go live on February 12 on the dedicated Take Care web page.
To mark the launch, UEFA is hosting a high-profile panel discussion at its Nyon headquarters featuring UEFA Champions League and EURO 2016 winner Nani, Swiss women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage, and Aspire Academy’s Director of Football Performance Valter Di Salvo. The event will be moderated by sports journalist Pedro Pinto.
UEFA’s push into health advocacy is a timely one, reflecting growing concerns about sedentary lifestyles, mental health, and the impact of digital consumption. While the initiative is ambitious, its success will hinge on its ability to move beyond glossy campaigns and into real, impactful change. Football, after all, is a game of action—Take Care will need to be one too.
“In today’s fast-paced world, our physical and mental well-being face numerous challenges and risks on a daily basis that can have a harmful impact on both ourselves and those around us. Football can serve as an antidote, offering a unique way to help restore balance both on and off the pitch by promoting and encouraging healthier lifestyles. UEFA believes in the power and responsibility of football to inform and raise awareness, and the Take Care programme is a key part of that,” said Michele Uva, UEFA social and environmental sustainability director.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1738760214labto1738760214ofdlr1738760214owedi1738760214sni@g1738760214niwe.1738760214yrrah1738760214
