“Il calcio senza confini”: breaking barriers in women’s football

An inspiring, inclusive, and highly constructive evening unfolded yesterday at the Teatro di Gradisca d’Isonzo. The event, titled “Il calcio senza confini” (“Football Without Borders”), was organized by US Triestina Calcio and ASD ISM Gradisca, with the support of the Municipality of Gradisca d’Isonzo and an opening institutional greeting by Jani Rijavec from the GO!2025 committee. Its central theme was women’s football, exploring the similarities and differences between neighboring regions, Italy and Slovenia, in a comprehensive analysis.

The discussions spanned various dimensions: from technical and structural aspects to psychological approaches on and off the field, training methods, and facilities. Topics also included the role of family, schools, institutions, and society, the rights of women and athletes, as well as the evolving media landscape and the impact of social networks.

The evening’s distinguished guests included the head coaches of the Italian and Slovenian women’s national football teams, Andrea Soncin and Saša Kolman. They were joined by Roberta Nunin, Professor of Labor Law at the University of Trieste and an advocate for gender equality, Mariagiovanna Vida, project manager of Auxilia Foundation and promoter of the “L’Accademia delle ragazze” initiative, Silvia Contardo and Gastone Giacuzzo from the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional LND committee, and Luca Della Mea, head of women’s football for Triestina Calcio.

The event offered a wealth of insights and experiences, both within and beyond football. It fostered a dynamic exchange, highlighting shared values while breaking down cross-border barriers and gender stereotypes. From Soncin and Kolman’s top-tier experience as national team coaches to the grassroots efforts in the region that promote inclusive and sustainable projects, the evening emphasized the critical role of Gradisca d’Isonzo as a hub for collaboration and development.

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session between the audience and the speakers. Additional events are already being planned to continue this vital dialogue in the coming months.