On the evening of Thursday, 20 March, the FIFA Museum welcomed distinguished guests for a fascinating exploration of the changing landscape of the women’s game. The event was held in collaboration with the Fussballverband Region Zürich (FVRZ, Zurich Regional Football Association).

The event was hosted by FIFA Museum Football Expert Prisca Steinegger and Claudia Gfeller, the FVRZ’s Head of Women’s and Girls’ Football. With the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 under four months away, the European showpiece and hosts Switzerland’s chances in it were naturally among the topics discussed.

Steinegger and Gfeller were joined on stage by figures representing the past, present and future of Swiss women’s football. They included Bernadette “Beno” Doerr-Ries and Sandra Betschart, who won a combined 84 Switzerland caps across playing careers that each lasted over 15 years. Also present was current Grasshoppers and Die Nati midfield starlet Noemi Ivelj, one of the brightest prospects in European football. Regula Schweizer, the Women’s EURO 2025 Project Manager for the city of Zurich, completed the stellar line-up.

The soirée was divided into two parts. Firstly, Steinegger led a discussion on the state of play in Swiss women’s football and the developments over recent decades. Eighteen-year-old Ivelj, 35-year-old Betschart and 61-year-old Doerr-Ries were perfectly placed to reflect on the differences (and similarities) across generations. Though all drew on their personal experiences, there were many common threads – including shared excitement ahead of the Women’s EURO on home soil. This was summed up by Betschart, a member of the first Switzerland squads to feature at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (in Canada in 2015) and the Women’s EURO (in 2017 in the Netherlands): “The Women’s EURO is set to be a huge celebration of football. I hope that the Swiss team will rise to the occasion and create a real sense of euphoria. That could be very influential in how the tournament pans out.”

Beno Doerr-Ries is delighted for the Swiss team to be able to play in such a tournament on home turf. Of course, she would also have liked to have taken part in such a major event at some point in her career: “It was a different time; we weren’t ready yet. Today, I am happy for every player who gets to have such an experience. I will keep my fingers crossed for them.”

Noemi Ivelj is a strong contender to play in the European Championship in Switzerland this summer and the young talent cannot wait: “I’m especially looking forward to the fans and the packed stadiums. I will draw inspiration from the atmosphere. But to be honest, I’m looking forward to everything that’s coming up.”

The second part was firmly focused on this year’s Women’s EURO, with Regula Schweizer and Claudia Gfeller providing inside insights into its organisation and potential legacy. On the one hand, the audience was treated to a behind-the-scenes account of the preparations for the competition. On the other, the pair talked about the huge impact that the tournament will have on women’s football in Switzerland, and particularly in Zurich. “We are of course hoping for sustainable development. The European Championship can give a big boost to girls’ and women’s football in Switzerland and particularly in the Zurich region. Strengthening the position of women and girls at clubs is one of our missions,” said Gfeller.

Befitting the diversity of perspectives on offer, the event was staged in and around The Rainbow, the FIFA Museum’s iconic display of national-team shirts arranged by colour. After the talk, the visitors also enjoyed the chance to check out the museum exhibition, particularly the FIFA Women’s World Cup part of the FIFA World Cup Gallery. Like the event itself, this section’s expansion last year is another testament to the FIFA Museum’s commitment to shining a spotlight on the women’s game.