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FAW: Welsh football sets out aims – and says it needs more money


The FAW last set out targets in 2021, qualification for the 2022 men’s World Cup and the 2025 women’s Euros two key goals ticked.

They also hit goals for increasing numbers playing the sport, with the amount of registered players going from 80,0000 to 120,0000.

The FAW now want that number to grow to 160,000, including doubling the numbers of women and girls to 40,0000.

They believe increasing the numbers playing will help the top level but also boost the nation’s health – with the need for more facilities key.

Projects in the 100 most deprived and diverse communities will be a priority, as well as a 50% increase of priority pitch access for women and girls.

A specific strategy for the women and girls’ game will be launched next month, but it will include doubling the money invested.

A recent review suggested it would cost £150m to deliver the facilities local authority areas needed.

Mooney says increased revenues from Fifa following the 2026 World Cup and the planned windfall from staging Euro 2028 has helped the FAW nudge towards revenues of £50m.

But he is eager that the forthcoming Welsh Government budget – the first since Plaid Cymru’s election success earlier this year – will see an increase in money invested into capital projects.

The FAW has been boosted by money from the UK Government for some of its plans to date, but Mooney said Welsh Government should now do more, saying the current £13m for capital expenditure was “a scratch on the surface of what we need to get to”.

Mooney added: “We’ve got confidence. We’ve had a lot of discussions with the new government and they’ve given us all of the signals that we’re going into the right direction.”

Mooney says football’s place in preventative health was key, saying allocating greater resources was “a no-brainer”.

Other key aims include every game over under-12 level having a qualified, neutral referee, reducing the number of teenagers dropping out of football by half, growing the number of qualified coaches by a third, and taking Cymru Premier average attendances past 1,000.



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