- World Cup Fund investment launched at Barclays Hampden
Scotland's future football stars will benefit from a £500,000
World Cup Fund officially launched by First Minister during a visit to Barclays
Hampden.
The fund will support a three-year programme delivered in
partnership with the Scottish FA to strengthen elite youth
development pathways for boys and girls across Scotland.
The programme will provide specialist support to clubs within the
boys' Club Academy Scotland - the national programme for
developing young talent at club level - and girls' Next Gen
pathways, enhance player development opportunities and expand the
use of performance insights and innovation across the game.
During the visit, the First Minister met young players, coaches
and Scottish FA representatives to hear how the investment will
help develop talent and support the next generation of Scotland
internationals.
First Minister said:
Scotland's return to the World Cup reminded us all of what can be
achieved through talent, hard work and ambition. Sport and
physical activity can transform lives, and we want to support the
next generation of talent in Scottish football.
Alongside our £20 million Summer of Sport programme to get
children and young people active, this World Cup Fund builds on
that momentum by investing in the young people who could
represent Scotland in years ahead and delivers on my commitment
made for the Scottish Government's first 100 days.
Supporting both boys' and girls' pathways, this investment will
help create more opportunities for talented young people,
strengthen clubs and support the long-term future of Scottish
football.
Scottish FA's Chief Football Officer, Craig Mulholland, said:
Scotland was gripped by our return to the World Cup stage this
summer, and it united a nation in a way no other event can do.
It had been too long, and our job is to make sure it's a regular
occurrence.
We are delighted with the investment and support from the
Scottish Government, on the back of their excellent Summer of
Sport programme.
This initiative aligns fully with our Scottish FA strategy. We
will take a bespoke, creative, and innovative approach to
supporting our club network through Club Academy Scotland, for
our boys, and our girls' Barclays NextGen pathways. Helping our
clubs grow in a modern way, using objective insights that will
significantly enhance the offering to young Scottish talent
creating better players and coaches.
We need our young people in Scotland to have ambition and aspire
to follow in the footsteps of the exceptional role models we
have, such as Andy Robertson and Caroline Weir. Our task, working
with the Scottish Government, is to provide the best environment
for these dreams to be realised.
In addition, the wider benefits of football to the individual,
families, communities, and country in general are apparent.
We need to harness the power of football, on and off the pitch.
Background
The £500,000 investment is part of a three-year programme,
delivered in partnership with the Scottish FA, running from
2026-2029.
The Scottish Government will invest £500,000, with the Scottish
FA contributing a further £85,000.
