The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) has unveiled a groundbreaking four-year strategic initiative designed to fundamentally transform the landscape of women’s football within the Central American nation. Dubbed “Let Her Play,” the comprehensive 2026-2029 roadmap establishes an ambitious objective: to elevate Belize into a competitive international contender and ultimately secure qualification for a FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament.
This transformative strategy is structured around five foundational pillars encompassing all developmental aspects—from grassroots participation in educational institutions to substantial infrastructure enhancements. A primary quantitative target involves significantly improving the senior women’s national team’s current FIFA ranking of 171st globally.
FFB President Sergio Chuc emphasized the alignment with FIFA’s worldwide vision for women’s football expansion: “Our strategic ambition ensures every female across Belize gains access to safe, organized, and competitive football pathways, fundamentally reshaping opportunities for future generations.”
The federation has committed to implementing concrete measures including establishing dedicated youth academies, launching women’s futsal and beach soccer leagues, plus expanding educational programs for female coaches and match officials. Technical Director Philip Marin notably declared: “Women’s football in Belize has transitioned from future potential to present reality.”
Crucially, the blueprint addresses systemic challenges through dedicated pillars focusing on media visibility and sustainable financing. Objectives include securing national television coverage for women’s matches and attracting significant corporate sponsorship. The infrastructure development component promises gender-inclusive facilities, high-performance training environments, regional academy networks, quality playing surfaces, and comprehensive medical support systems to overcome existing resource constraints.
Women’s Executive Jacqueline Pelayo highlighted the cultural transformation at the plan’s core: “Beyond structural policies and strategic pillars, this initiative embodies a deeper purpose—to fundamentally shift societal perceptions surrounding women’s football, open previously closed doors, and create inclusive spaces for female athletes to thrive.”