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HatTrick contributed to the funding of the new Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) campus in Zeist
Football development

UEFA HatTrick programme

Our HatTrick programme redistributes two-thirds off the revenue from the UEFA European Championships to our member associations for investment in football development projects.

Goals

We created our HatTrick programme in 2004 to redistribute revenue from the UEFA EURO final tournament to each of our member associations for reinvestment in long-term football development projects. These include building football infrastructure, such as national stadiums, training centres and pitches, or implementing a range of UEFA standards and initiatives: anti-match fixing, coaching, club licensing, elite youth player development, grassroots and women's football, good governance, refereeing and social responsibility.

Renewed every four years to align with the frequency of our men's European Championships, the programme has evolved into one of the largest solidarity and development initiatives in sport. Reinvesting an average 60% of our income from each EURO across European football, HatTrick is one of the most important drivers of UEFA's not-for-profit mission.

Often HatTrick funding acts as a catalyst, attracting additional funds from private and/or public sector organisations.

Initially, HatTrick also funded education and knowledge-sharing activities. But since 2019, the UEFA Academy has taken on this role, offering educational programmes tailored for administrators, players and specialists developing their football careers.

Why is the programme important for UEFA's overall mission?

In keeping with the principles of the European sports model, UEFA reinvests as much as possible of the revenue generated by its flagship competitions into developing the game at all levels – from the grassroots up.

HatTrick accounts for a significant proportion of this funding: by the end of its fifth four-year cycle in 2024, the programme will have channelled a cumulative total of €2.6bn into development activities. This commitment will be strengthened further with the HatTrick VI cycle, which foresees an investment of €935m from 2024–28.

How HatTrick works

HatTrick redistributes men’s EURO net earnings to European national associations in three ways:

• Investment funding for each association every four years to allocate according to strategic priorities. Each application for funding is evaluated by our HatTrick Committee. If approved, we establish agreements, and then monitor and support the rollout of associations' projects.

• Annual solidarity payment to help cover association running costs (€800,000).

• Annual incentive payments: each association is eligible for incentive payments (up to €1.6 million per season) to implement the following UEFA initiatives and standards.

o Participation in UEFA youth women’s, futsal and amateur competitions (€250,000)

o UEFA club licensing system (€250,000 per season)

o Good governance (€200,000 season)

o UEFA Grassroots Charter (€200,000)

o UEFA women’s football development programme (€150,000)

o UEFA Coaching Convention (up to €100,000)

o UEFA Referee Convention (€100,000)

o UEFA elite youth player development programme (€100,000)

o UEFA football and social responsibility programme (€100,000)

o National team travel expenses (€100,000)

o Anti-match-fixing and integrity activities (€50,000)

"HatTrick is aimed at supporting associations to foster football at all levels."

Karl-Erik Nilsson, Chair of the UEFA HatTrick committee

HatTrick 2024-2028

For the programme's sixth edition, which will redistribute EURO 2024 income, we have substantially increased the level of funding. The total budget of €935m represents 66% of the EURO's projected income and a 21% increase on the previous cycle. Each of our member associations is eligible to receive up to €17 million over the programme’s four-year cycle from July 2024 to June 2028.

Evolution

The secret of HatTrick's longevity and success lies in its constant evolution to adapt to the pace of change in European football. Before the start of each four-year HatTrick funding cycle, we collect feedback from across the football community. The sixth edition of the programme, which will redistribute EURO 2024 revenue from July 2024 to June 2028, reflects an extensive consultation process with all our member associations and stakeholders.

Impact

Not every member association can participate in the European Championship finals but, in the long-term, HatTrick ensures all 55 are winners. By the end of the programme's fifth four-year cycle in June 2024, we will have invested a cumulative total of €2.6 billion in more than 1,000 football development activities.

Investment projects

More than 1,000 pitches and 3,000 mini-pitches built to ensure ensuring everyone can play the beautiful game, regardless of where they live.

34 national training centres developed to prepare players, coaches and referees.

More than 60% of Europe's national stadiums either modernised or constructed with the support of UEFA EURO revenue, ensuring player and spectator safety and improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Development and incentive schemes

• Thanks to HatTrick funds, our elite youth player development programme has funded more than 400 projects.

More than 700 projects funded through the UEFA women's football development programme, creating more opportunities for girls and women to play football.

Over 500 social and environmental projects funded in national association countries.

Added value

• HatTrick's impact stretches far beyond the playing field, with UEFA's investment supplemented by national associations, clubs, governments and local authorities.

COVID-19 pandemic

It is a measure of HatTrick’s importance to European football that, as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic brought the game to temporary halt in 2020, we quickly reassured all associations that UEFA would honour its four-year HatTrick commitments.

To help our members cope with the unprecedented financial hit, we anticipated the release of €236.5 million in HatTrick funds and allowed associations to determine for themselves how best to invest these payments to protect their national game.

Downloads

UEFA HatTrick V Regulations
UEFA HatTrick VI Regulations
UEFA HatTrick programme – Overview
HatTrick Review 2004 – 2014