UEFA Women's EURO 2022^TM:

Men play “football”. And women play “women’s football”. Wait, what? Enough of that! We are more advanced. As football fans. And as a society. Let’s make a change together. As the official mobility partner of  the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™, we are launching our statement #NotWomensFootball.

Because women don’t play women’s passes and they don’t score women’s goals. Women play football. #NotWomensFootball

Our intentionally ambiguous hashtag shows that we mean business! And are striving for more equality in football. To the fans, clubs, associations, simply to everyone: Wake up! Open your eyes. Women know how it’s done. In order for people to rethink things, you sometimes have to tease them, speak uncomfortable truths, have controversial discussions, make progress, and break down prejudices in the process. Women grind and fight, always giving their all for 90 minutes. Watch them play at your neighbourhood club or in the stadium. Women are changing the game and they work just as hard as men.

As the official mobility partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ and the DFB, we will be kicking things off with the start of the tournament, as part of the opening game on 6 July in Manchester. There, the international hashtag ‘Women play football. #NotWomensFootball’ will pop up in bold on the banner, visible to fans all across the world. So that everyone gets it!

There is no women’s tackling, no women’s saves and no women’s shots. There’s just football. #NotWomensFootball

During the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ we will cover the tournament on selected match days, capturing moods and emotions directly from the host cities and stadiums, and, above all, we will be speaking to the women who shape football in England. There is even more for you to discover on Volkswagen OneHub, including four emotional video documentaries that will open up completely new perspectives and show how dedicated women are and how passionately they love their sport.

And the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™ is just the kick-off for our involvement. Our mission continues. We will stay active. With more stories, more depth, more impact. Because the topic of equality will never be fully told. We will give a voice to the women who give everything for the game.

Because women play and live and breathe football. #NotWomensFootball

This is influencer Imke Salander

Follow Imke here on Instagram

What intense weeks those were. The EURO captivated us throughout July. We told emotional stories, gave a voice to the women who are changing football - and in doing so we initiated important discussions. We absorbed emotions and moods from the stadiums, as close as it gets. We’ve seen inspiring world-class athletes and fans. This was just great football. #NotWomensFootball
 

An epic tournament concludes in an epic finale. In Wembley, England beat Germany 2-1 after a thrilling 120 minutes and secured the title for the first time. Before that, Imke met 'Girls United' founder Romina Calatayud and spoke to her about the exciting project that is empowering young girls on and off the pitch.
 

Lewes FC showed courage for equality in 2017. They were the first English club to distribute all resources equally between men's and women's teams, including salaries. Club boss Maggie Murphy exemplifies the inclusive culture. Everyone is welcome here - and everyone can have a say, because the club is not owned by an investor, but by a huge community. Simply football for everyone. #NotWomensFootball
 

In Milton Keynes, Imke visited Milton Keynes City FC and spoke to the bosses about the huge boom, because they can hardly save themseves from new enquiries for the women's teams. Then it was off to the stadium for a thrilling semi-final, which Germany narrowly won 2-1 against France to book their place in the final at Wembley.
 

London is definitely hyped for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™. Imke was out and about at the fan festival around Trafalgar Square and spoke to the locals about the tournament euphoria and just how much the sport is booming in the motherland of football.
 

What a celebration of English football. In the first semi-final, Imke watched the hosts rush into the final with a 4-0 win over Sweden. Before that, she visited the women's team at Sheffield FC, which was founded in 1857 and is the oldest football club in the world. There Imke spoke to the players about stupid comments, prejudices and training with boys.

Football is for everyone. Hardly anyone appreciates that as much as Roya Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy. As a half-Iranian, she didn't have an easy childhood in her small English home town. Sport helped her through this difficult time.

Today, as part of the organization "Football Beyond Borders", she gives disadvantaged people the chance to play football. Inclusivity is above all. Because Roya plays football. #NotWomensFootball

The UEFA Women's EURO™ is entering the decisive phase. Before going to the stadium in her city of birth in Brighton, Imke visited the Montpellier Villa FC team, joined them on the pitch and chatted with the players about their passion for football. In the evening she then experienced a real thriller in which England beat Spain 2-1 after extra time in front of a great crowd. Exciting, high-class - an advertisement for football. #NotWomensFootball.

At Sirens FC, it's not only what happens on the pitch that counts, but also off it. This is where the true power of community is revealed. The inclusive club gives all women a home - no matter where they come from or what they look like. It’s all about enjoying the sport.

This is the emotional story about women who want to inspire other women to do the same. Because women play football. #NotWomensFootball

Imke sees two favorites in the Germany vs. Spain game. Football at the highest level. #NotWomensFootball. Before the game, she mingled with the fans in Brentford and talked to them about the development of football. The UEFA Women's EURO 2022™ is really picking up speed - not just on the pitch.

JJ Roble is a woman. She is black. She wears hijab. And she dreamed of becoming a referee.

This is the inspirational journey of a woman who came to England from Somalia - and didn't have much more than football.

Sport helped her integrate, learn the language and make friends. JJ Roble plays football. #NotWomensFootball.
 

What a way to start the UEFA Women's EURO 2022™. First Imke soaked up the emotion and spoke to fans on the streets of Manchester just before the kick-off of the opening match. And at Old Trafford, over 68,000 spectators made for a record crowd. While our statement 'Women play football. #NotWomensFootball' adorned the boards, England and Austria impressively showed exactly that. Now we're ready for more.