A groundbreaking women’s football forum will be held in Chile on 24 and 25 August bringing together players from across Latin America to discuss working conditions and the professionalisation of the game.

The event is organised by the Chilean Asociación Nacional de Jugadoras del Fútbol Femenino (ANJUFF), the only official women’s football union in the region, and will use the momentum and success of the 2018 Copa América Femenina, also held in Chile, to fight for recognition, legitimacy and respect in the women's game.

While South America boasts some of the best men’s clubs and national teams in the world, women’s football has been largely neglected. Two years ago, most of South America’s women’s national teams disappeared from the FIFA rankings.

Since then, players have organised themselves, protested and played their way back on to the pitch, while the growing popularity of the game has given the movement momentum.

This will be the first event of its kind in Latin America and is being organised as part of the Fare Global Grants scheme.

Some of the region’s most iconic players will be in attendance, including Catalina Usme (América de Cali, Colombia), Thais Picarte (Santos FC), Laura Ghiglione (Platense, Argentina), Macarena Sánchez (UAI Urquiza, Argentina), Orianica Velázquez and Maikerlin Astudillo (Estudiantes de Guarico FC, Venezuela), Valeria Colman (Nacional, Uruguay) and Wera Kuri.

On its second day, the forum will be followed by football clinics for girls from underprivileged backgrounds.

The event is supported by FIFPro, ONU Mujeres (UN Women) and Sindicato Interempresa de Futbolistas Profesionales de Chile (SIFUP). It will take place on 24 and 25 August at the Cepal building in Vitacura, Santiago Chile, from 9 AM.

Follow the event on Twitter via the hashtag #NostrasJugamos.