In 2026, Meninas em Campo marks 10 years of a history guided by a conviction present from the very beginning: girls and women have a place in soccer.
Over the course of this decade, the project has been expanding girls’ access to the sport and making soccer a space for belonging, development, and the discovery of new possibilities. The work on the field goes hand in hand with fostering autonomy, confidence, and the building of bonds that accompany participants at different stages of their journeys.
To celebrate this journey, on August 29 and 30, the Holy Cross Training Center in São Paulo hosted the “Elas em Campo” Cup. The event brought together girls of different ages and from various social projects across different regions for two days of soccer, fellowship, and celebration.
The presence of different organizations also highlighted an important aspect of this journey: the development of women’s soccer happens through a network. By bringing together projects and girls with diverse experiences, the Cup created opportunities for connection, exchange, and learning.
In addition to the matches, the program included sessions dedicated to health and nutrition, cultural activities, awareness-raising initiatives, and opportunities to interact with women working in various areas of soccer.
These encounters broadened the girls’ horizons and showed that the sport can open up different professional paths and opportunities for participation, both on and off the field.
Art was also part of the celebration. One exhibition featured photographs and paintings created by the team to showcase part of Meninas em Campo’s 10-year history. Another showcased works from the Primeiro Tempo Project, launched this year with U-9 children and featuring photography and painting workshops.
The 10th-anniversary celebration recognized the progress made and looked toward the future. Through training, competition, education, care, and community building, Meninas em Campo continues to create opportunities for more and more girls to claim their place in sports, find new role models, and recognize possibilities for their own paths.
