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UEFA Opens Nutrition Grants for Sports Programs

Schools and football organizations can now apply for up to €10,000 to support community nutrition initiatives.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Healthy Food

Screen-print poster illustration of a soccer ball and fresh fruit on grass, representing community nutrition and sports.
UEFA has launched a new grant category as part of its annual FootbALL Awards, offering up to €10,000 for local community nutrition initiatives. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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UEFA has opened applications for its third annual FootbALL Awards, which now include a new nutrition-focused category. Schools and football organizations can apply for the grant to support initiatives that promote healthy habits in their local communities.

Why it matters

This new prize category offers financial support to grassroots programs that help young athletes and students improve their dietary habits through sport-based initiatives. Organizations may use the funding to scale projects that have already demonstrated positive community impact.

UEFA has allocated €15,000 in total prize funding for the new nutrition category, divided into awards of €10,000, €4,000, and €1,000. To qualify, entrants must demonstrate a measurable positive impact on their local community from an initiative that has operated for at least one year.

The players

UEFA

The administrative and controlling body for European football that manages international competitions and development programs.

Lidl

An international grocery retailer that sponsors health-focused football initiatives and school nutrition programs.

FIFPRO

The worldwide representative organization for professional footballers that contributes to jury panels evaluating sports social impact.

The details

The nutrition prize is designed to support community-based projects that integrate healthy eating education with sports engagement. Applicants must submit evidence of how their program encourages better dietary choices among participants, such as students or young football players. An independent jury comprising representatives from Football Supporters Europe, FIFPRO, and Fare will evaluate each entry based on the demonstrated efficacy of the initiative over the past year.

Timeline

  1. October 27, 2026: Applications for the FootbALL Awards officially opened.

  2. November 30, 2026: The deadline for all award applications.

  3. 2027: Winning initiatives will be recognized at the upcoming Respect Forum.

Health Landscape

This award marks an expansion of sports-based health interventions that aim to connect physical activity with nutritional education. It builds upon the framework of UEFA's Football in Schools programme to standardize how athletic organizations promote long-term wellness among youth.

If you are involved with a school or youth football organization, you may want to review your current nutrition initiatives to see if they meet the one-year operational requirement. Discussing the application criteria with your project leads can help determine if your local program is prepared to compete for this funding.

The takeaway

The FootbALL Awards highlight the growing importance of community programs that pair sports with nutritional support. If you lead a youth health initiative, ensure you track your outcomes over at least 12 months to build the necessary data for future grant applications.

Further reading

For more information on the intersection of nutrition and wellness, visit Healthy Food.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Inside World Football.

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Do you believe corporate sponsorship of local youth sports initiatives genuinely benefits your community?