The SOL Foundation assists the Laureus Foundation Switzerland in a partnership with the “Förderverein Florijana Ismaili – FI9”; FI9 is a low-threshold (introductory) programme that offers girls and young women aged six to 20 the opportunity to explore football in a fun and pressure-free environment. The core aim of FI9 is to inspire young girls and women across the country through football to break free from social norms, pursue their dreams, and broaden participation in girls’ football.
Förderverein Florijana Ismaili – FI9 [with Laureus Foundation Switzerland]
Switzerland
2025-2026
In brief
Problem to be tackled
Although football is by far the most popular team sport in Switzerland, it remains predominantly a male domain. Women’s football in Switzerland has grown steadily in recent years, with women now making up 8% of licensed players. However, active development in women’s football has so far been driven only sporadically, mainly at the elite level, while grassroots football has received little structured attention. As a result, there is a lack of opportunities for girls and young women to access the sport. Many football clubs also offer a narrow, often competition-focused and/or mixed-gender program that does not align with the needs of many girls, which is why they are often underrepresented in clubs. There is an increasing need to make football more accessible to girls and young women and to create an environment where they can be encouraged without the pressure of competition, discover, and express their abilities, and engage in physical activity. Football, as a team sport, offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen social bonds and promote the personal development and long-term integration of girls into sports. Football creates a shared experience across cultural boundaries, fostering social cohesion.
Local partner
FI9 is an abbreviation for Florijana Ismaili and her jersey number 9. The talented football player dedicated much of her time and passion to promoting women’s football during her career. Her greatest wish was to advance women’s football step by step and increase its popularity among girls. To continue fulfilling the dreams of the player, who tragically passed away far too early, the “Förderverein Florijana Ismaili – FI9” was established. The foundation’s mission is to create a broader base for girls’ and women’s football, which in turn strengthens the elite level. The goal is to provide all girls, regardless of their social or socioeconomic background, with accessible, low-barrier football opportunities without performance pressure, where they can freely explore the sport and enjoy social participation.
Beneficiaries
The project is open to everyone, girls with focus on the interest in football and the sense of community, not on the level of football skills; the project promotes its offerings primarily through schools at FI9 Girls Group Training locations or camps.
SOL’s contribution
With the continued support from The SOL Foundation, the Laureus Foundation Switzerland will be able to extend and expand as well as to professionalise the existing annual programme of the “Förderverein Florijana Ismaili – FI9” including outreach and social change elements for more impact of more girls and young women using the power of football.
Project partner
The Laureus Foundation Switzerland is one of eight national foundations of the global Sport For Good Foundation with the aim to enable children and young people to lead positive and self-determined lives with the help of sport. The foundation finances, promotes and develops social sports programmes for children and young people who need support – regardless of gender, origin, religion, social class, or health restrictions.
In 2024, Laureus Switzerland has been supporting five social sports programmes and more than 14’000 children and young people in the thematic areas “Gender Equality”, “Health and well-being”, and “Inclusion”.
