Stories Curated by Rebel Girls
Romina Calatayud
Romina Calatayud set a goal to establish a movement and build local sports clubs across Mexico. Read how Romina tackled gender inequality and founded Girls United – a new way to make football more accessible to young girls.
Romina Calatayud. Girls United, Mexican. Born: 9 April, 1994. Illustration by Caribay Marquina.
Romina grew up in Mexico City, where everyone was a football fan and anywhere could be a football pitch! She sprinted to keep up with her brother and cousins, determined to score the next goal during their neighbourhood games. And after every big Sunday lunch, her whole family would kick the ball around in the garden.
But as Romina grew up, she realised that football wasn’t equal for everyone. While her brother and male cousins chased professional football careers, Romina struggled to even find opportunities to train.
‘Girls United is about enjoying football and finding your voice—because girls who love the game, change the game.’
At university, Romina joined a women’s football club and discovered that her teammates also had to go to great lengths to play the sport they loved growing up. One of Romina’s friends had even dressed as a boy just so that she would be allowed to play!
There must be a way to make football accessible for girls around the world, she thought.
Romina knew that football teaches players skills beyond passing and scoring. She wanted to use the sport to help girls learn about communication, leadership, and community. That’s how the idea for her organisation, Girls United, was born. Girls United gives girls the chance to play football and learn important life skills.
At the first Girls United event in Mexico, more than 100 girls travelled from local schools to play football. They arrived on the pitch with big smiles, ready to learn. Romina’s mission had begun!
Since then, Romina and her team have set up more programs around the world. They’ve built local football clubs where coaches help girls develop football skills alongside the life skills they need to reach their potential.
Romina believed that football could be for everyone, and she made her dream a reality.