02/10/2026
This weekend, English football will once again come together to champion safeguarding across the game as part of our Play Safe Weekend, taking place on 3-4 October 2026.
The FA Play Safe campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC and it will be supported this weekend by the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays WSL2, Men’s and Women’s National League and their respective clubs, and the many clubs and leagues from across the grassroots game.
This year’s Play Safe theme, ‘Keep Up the Convo’, builds on the campaign’s underlying idea that Small Talk is Bigger Than You Think. In 2026, we are encouraging adults across football to create regular opportunities for children and young people to share their views and experiences, and to listen and respond to what they tell us.
Whether it’s in the car, at pick-up, at drop-off or on the sidelines, everyday conversations help adults understand children’s experiences of football. When children know they will be listened to and taken seriously, it can make it easier to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
