UEFA has introduced a new data-driven pitch-mapping system designed to identify and analyze more than 400,000 football pitches across Europe, supporting national associations in infrastructure planning and investment decisions.
The tool combines artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and open-source mapping data to locate and classify football facilities, distinguishing between grass, artificial turf, and concrete surfaces. It also uses heat maps and population overlays to highlight underserved areas and regions requiring further investment.
Developed jointly by UEFA Grow and its intelligence centre teams, the system enables federations to better understand football infrastructure at local, regional, and national levels, improving long-term planning and resource allocation.
Several national associations have already adopted the tool. The Albanian Football Association has increased its mapped facilities by over 30%, using the data to support evidence-based infrastructure development and improve competition planning.
The Faroe Islands Football Association has also used the system to identify previously unrecorded small-sided pitches, significantly improving understanding of grassroots access across its municipalities.
Similarly, the Malta Football Association has expanded its database of known pitches by nearly one-third, particularly in rural areas, helping optimize facility usage and identify gaps in coverage.
UEFA officials say the initiative is helping federations make more informed decisions about where to invest in football infrastructure, ultimately aiming to improve access to the sport across all levels of participation in Europe.