Football Association of Wales launches 10-year strategic plan

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has unveiled 'Llunio Cymru', a ten-year strategic plan spanning 2026 to 2036. The initiative aims to grow the sport across all levels of Welsh society, focusing on grassroots participation, facility improvements, and elite performance.

Key objectives include increasing the total number of registered players from 120,000 to 160,000 and doubling the number of registered women and girls to 40,000. To support this growth, the FAW intends to deliver 100 new or upgraded pitches by 2030, seeking to ensure quality facilities are accessible within 15 minutes of every community. The association has requested substantial capital funding from the Welsh government and local authorities to achieve these infrastructure goals.

On the elite level, the strategy targets a top-20 FIFA ranking and aims for 80% of national team players to be regular starters in the world’s top five leagues. The plan also sets goals for reaching the knockout stages of the co-hosted Euro 2028 and the 2035 Women’s World Cup, while introducing two elite-category club academies to bolster domestic player development.