Exclusive: Queens League star Rachele Sartirani urges more investment as women’s football ‘builds a new culture’ | OneFootball

Rachele Sartirani is one of the world’s most impressive street football players, currently honing her talent in the Queens League, hosted throughout Spain.

The seven-a-side league was founded by footballing legend Gerard Piqué in 2023. Sartirani represents Kunitas FC — former Argentina and Premier League star Sergio Aguero’s side.

Her Football Hub were recently invited to spend some time with the pacy 26-year-old to talk all things football, the recent Euro 2025 campaign and her childhood influences.

For anyone who has been involved in women’s football for more than a few years, the increase in awareness and availability of the sport has been exponential. Of course, it’s not just the fans and clubs who have benefited from this, but the players themselves.

Dismantling the patriarchy

“It’s incredibly satisfying to witness this growth. Just five years ago, right before the pandemic, nobody would have imagined it.” Sartirani said. “We are breaking down one of the biggest gender stereotypes — that football is a ‘men’s sport’. We’re building a new culture.

“Of course, the process is still long. Women’s football is now visible, but the base of the pyramid still needs investment and care.”

Sartirani’s testimony can be easily supported by facts. Throughout Euro 2025, more than 500 million people tuned in on their televisions to watch the tournament. Fans also set a new record as the aggregate attendance of 574,875 set at Euro 2022 was eclipsed by the semi-finals.

Sartirani has a distinct understanding of the importance of fun, playing its part in football.

“What we need most is more women and girls playing, even just for fun. We want young girls to fall in love with football and share their passion. In the early days of the women’s game, this was often missing. Participation was low, and the only way to play was by joining a club, with no alternative spaces available.”

Rachele Sartirani for the Intersport x Adidas campaign – 2025

There is, however, always room for growth in women’s sport. The patriarchy — historically and presently at the top of women’s football — has for so long, purposely and viciously held growth at arm’s length.

“I’m proud of the progress so far, but I don’t forget where we started,” the Queens League star confessed. “There’s still a lot to do. In many countries, women’s football remains underrated, and even in some professional leagues, TV broadcasting remains uncertain. Most countries are not yet fully professional, even if they are transitioning. The challenge now is to ensure that growth at the top also inspires and supports the grassroots.”

Community an essential part of football

Candidly, Sartirani admits that trusting her teammates, coaches and the people around her was not a natural part of her evolution as not only a footballer, but as a human.

“For a long time, I tried to achieve everything by myself, believing that asking for help was a sign of weakness. Later in my career, I realised the real weakness is not trusting anyone, because it often reflects a lack of confidence in yourself.”

Once the defender began to challenge this belief system, her game and her life in general took the next step.

“Once I understood this, I found people who made me feel stronger, valued, and loved. They helped me see my potential. That’s the power of community: helping people find their place in a safe environment, and doing it through football makes it even more special.”

Community isn’t always just people found through common goals or in safe spaces, sometimes it can be much closer to home.

“My grandmother has always been a role model for her strength and the values she fostered to our family. The genuine love I received from my family members made me passionate about life, and I express that passion through football,” Sartirani said.

The future of women’s sport

As with all role models within the beautiful game, Sartirani has one eye on developing the sport for the next generation.

“It might sound basic, but without proper structures and spaces for women’s football, it’s hard to achieve anything,” the street footballer explained. “Football is emotional, and more when you play. Those emotions can lift you up or bring you down. That’s why we need to give players a good environment from their very first kick, so they keep playing and maybe one day become champions, or whoever they want to be.”

The women’s game is brimming with inspiring people who have sacrificed so much to make their dreams come true. Sartirani is no different.

“What matters most is that young people, young women have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

In 2024, UEFA announced it would be investing €1 billion into the grassroots women’s game over a six-year period. It’s initiatives like that which will create the spaces for young people to have fun and fall in love with playing sport.

Intersport and Adidas collaboration

In 2025, Sartirani was one of several players who collaborated with Intersport and Adidas to create media around their journey in women’s football. She described it as an ‘amazing opportunity’ to share part of her journey, which she is ‘incredibly grateful’ for.

It’s important that all women’s sport fans have these opportunities to build special relationships with players in the sport through media. It allows fans to feel that one step closer to the pitch and more invested in their successes and failures.

“My story with football is far from over,” Sartirani said. “Football has been both my motivation and a mirror of my life, especially since moving to another country. I’ve achieved dreams I never imagined and faced challenges that have shaped my personality. I want to share my experience, just as others have shared theirs with me, because I know it can inspire and support people who might be going through situations I’ve faced before or who feel alone in their journey.”

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