The Nordic countries want to increase international games for women’s club teams. One possibility is to start a new league.
The Nordic countries want to establish a new football league in addition to domestic series games.
The matter is still very much in its early stages and in the review phase. The desire for a new “Viikinki league” is based on the fact that Nordic women’s clubs have had difficulties reaching the group stage of the Champions League.
The new league would aim to ensure that the Nordic countries do not fall behind in development. The matter was initially revealed by the president of the Norwegian Football Association Lise Klaveness.
– We want to establish a northern league or do something together so that we can benefit competitively. We need to make Nordic football commercial so that the salaries are higher and the best players choose to play here. We must not see money as somehow a bad thing, Klaveness said according to Fotballskanalen.
Only one chance for women
Development Manager of the Football Association Heidi Pihlaja says that the Nordic countries have recognized together how important it would be to have more international matches for women’s club teams.
After the Champions League, men’s club teams have the opportunity to reach either the Europa League or the Conference League. The only chance for women is the Champions League.
– Especially for the Nordic countries, it offers very limited opportunities for international matches, which in turn is seen as really important for the development of the sport not only in the Nordic countries, but also throughout Europe, says Pihlaja.
For example, in Finland, only last year’s Finnish champion KuPS was able to play in the Champions League qualifiers. And only for two matches.
– The number one motive is to increase international games for club teams. Although we are in the early stages, of course we also see interesting commercial opportunities here, says Pihlaja.
Great opportunity
The Nordic football confederations already talked about the matter when in October 2022 they jointly applied for the EC final tournament for 2025. The matter has been investigated in more detail this autumn.
– We are very much in the early stages, both in terms of a possible competition model, but also in terms of the commercial and brand side. I hope we can make progress. I see this as a great opportunity.
According to Pihlaja, we are currently working out what the cooperation can be concretely.
– We see (European football confederation) Uefa as an important partner and we are thinking about how the whole of international matches can be solved together.
Problem identified in Europe
Pihlaja believes that the need for the so-called European League has been recognized in Europe. That’s why the Nordic countries want to discuss their plans closely with UEFA.
– Is it the case that we can solve this together, or is it the case that we first solve it Nordic-wise and then possibly later Europe-wide? If realized, this Nordic model or in general a new international competition for women would be a great opportunity both athletically and commercially.