Arsenal and England forward Alessia Russo has launched the Alessia Russo Foundation, aimed at increasing girls' participation in sport and promoting female health. The foundation's first major event was the Alessia Cup, an annual girls' football tournament organised in partnership with the London-based charity Goals 4 Girls and broadcaster Sky.
The tournament, held at Haringey's New River Leisure Centre, featured 180 girls from schools across London. Russo attended the event, watching the final, taking part in a Q&A, and presenting medals and trophies. The winning team was Chislehurst School for Girls.
Russo said the event was rewarding and helped her switch off from the pressures of professional football. 'They inspire me,' she said. 'It's crazy to see how much of an impact we have. It brings you back down to earth.'
The foundation focuses on three pillars: reducing dropout rates among girls in sport, helping girls pursue career paths, and promoting female health. Goals 4 Girls founder Francesca Brown said having Russo as a role model 'makes the impossible possible' and bridges the gap between dream and reality.
The Alessia Cup was designed as a 'wellbeing tournament', including dance workshops, meditation zones, and sessions on breath work and anxiety management. This came after research showing a 65% increase in child mental health admissions in England over a decade.
Russo's involvement comes after a Sky Public First report found that girls in the UK miss out on 280 million hours of sport each year. Russo said she hopes to leave the women's game 'in an even better place' for the next generation.
