FAI launches 2026–2029 strategy with facilities push and diaspora funding vehicle

The Football Association of Ireland has published its 2026–2029 strategy, ‘It’s Time To Change The Game’, setting out a four-year plan to increase participation, improve facilities and strengthen the League of Ireland talent pathway.The strategy positions facilities and player development as the main levers for improving Ireland’s international competitiveness, alongside governance reform and a push for a more sustainable operating model.The document describes Ireland as the “third most underperforming” UEFA nation when population, participation and resources are taken into account, pointing to inconsistent pathways, limited contact time and a fragmented ecosystem across grassroots and the professional game.FAI CEO David Courell said: “Put simply, we must modernise how we develop and deliver football; this Strategy provides the blueprint to help us achieve that.”The plan’s three core priorities are getting more boys and girls playing football, developing facilities at every level and growing talent through League of Ireland academies.A trio of “gamechangers” sits underneath the strategy: the Global Ireland Football Foundation, a Football Pathways Plan and accelerated academy development across the League of Ireland.The Global Ireland Football Foundation has been set up as an independent funding vehicle aimed at raising €15m by 2029 from high-net-worth donors, with proceeds earmarked for facilities projects rather than day-to-day operating costs.The strategy also reiterates a longer-term infrastructure ambition running to 2038, with €122m raised so far against an overall target of €863m for facilities investment.Facilities gaps are positioned as a participation barrier as well as a high-performance issue, with the wider plan aiming to deliver better pitches, lighting and changing provision, and to raise stadium standards across the domestic game.The strategy launch comes alongside a major cost-reduction programme, with 48 staff leaving through voluntary redundancy and a further 15 departures expected through a compulsory process, taking headcount to about 200.Debt reduction remains a parallel priority, with a target to bring liabilities below €25m by the end of 2029, supported by anticipated revenues linked to co-hosting Euro 2028.FAI board chair Tony Keohane said: “It is hugely important that the 2026-2029 FAI Strategy is used to help build a self-sustaining ecosystem that will ensure our players, coaches, administrators, referees, volunteers, supporters and stakeholders know that they all have a part to play in delivering success for Irish football.”On-pitch targets are also included, with the association aiming for the men’s senior side to move into the world’s top 20 and the women’s team into the top 15 within three years.Beyond football-specific infrastructure, exploratory talks are under way with the GAA and IRFU on potential pilot projects for shared, multi-sport municipal facilities as part of a broader push towards higher utilisation and more investable community assets.Delivery over the four-year cycle now hinges on converting the facilities agenda into funded projects, while building club-led academy capacity that reduces reliance on external player development routes.