FAW seeks more funding for 100-pitch target in new Welsh football plan

The Football Association of Wales has called for increased public funding as it launches a strategy to expand participation, improve facilities and strengthen its national teams over the next decade. BBC Sport Wales reported that the plan, named Llunio Cymru, sets targets through to 2036, including 100 new or upgraded pitches by 2030 and a return to the top 20 of the men's FIFA world rankings.

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The facilities programme aims to put good-quality places to play within 15 minutes of every community. Chief executive Noel Mooney told the BBC that the association had spent more than £30 million on pitches over the past four years, but said substantially more support was needed. He identified the Welsh Government and Wales' 22 local authorities as essential partners in delivering the planned expansion.

The FAW wants registered participation to reach 160,000 players and intends to prioritise projects in the 100 most deprived and diverse communities. Its plans also include a 50% increase in priority pitch access for women and girls. A separate strategy for the women's and girls' game is due next month and will include a doubling of investment, with Mooney stressing that growth requires additional facilities.

The funding challenge extends beyond the association's existing spending. According to the BBC, a recent review estimated that providing the facilities needed across local authority areas would cost £150 million. Mooney said increased FIFA revenues following the 2026 World Cup and anticipated income from hosting Euro 2028 had helped the FAW move towards £50 million in revenue. Nevertheless, he wants the forthcoming Welsh Government budget to increase investment in capital projects.

The strategy also addresses the people needed to sustain participation. It seeks a qualified, neutral referee for every match above under-12 level and a one-third increase in qualified coaches. Other goals include halving the number of teenagers leaving football and lifting average attendances in the Cymru Premier beyond 1,000. The FAW links greater participation both to stronger elite teams and to improvements in public health.

The new programme follows targets set in 2021, which included qualification for the men's 2022 World Cup and the women's 2025 European Championship. Both were achieved. The latest goals set out what the association wants to deliver next; Mooney's appeal for additional support makes clear that the funding sought to help achieve them has not yet been secured.