Scotland launches Project 2035 to double female football participation

Scotland has launched Project 2035, a long-term programme to expand women's and girls' football, with targets to double registered female player numbers and quadruple match attendances and audiences. BBC reporting says the Scottish FA and Scottish government are behind the strategy, which is supported by £250,000 in government funding this year.

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The plan aims to strengthen routes into football and establish Scotland as a leading nation in the women's game by 2035. Its ambitions also extend to the national team: regular qualification for major tournaments is a stated goal. Scotland's women have not reached a major finals since the 2019 World Cup, according to the BBC.

Delivery will be overseen by a new taskforce bringing together the Scottish government, the Scottish FA, Scottish Women's Football and the Scottish Women's Premier League. PFA Scotland, Sportscotland and Cosla are also involved, placing responsibility across football organisations, government and the wider sporting sector rather than with a single governing body.

The National's reporting, carried by Yahoo, detailed First Minister John Swinney's ambition to make football accessible to every girl who wants to participate. That includes coaching, officiating, volunteering and leadership as well as playing. Swinney presented the programme as a way to build on recent growth and widen opportunities throughout Scotland.

Scottish Women's Football chief executive Aileen Campbell said grassroots participation had grown strongly but that obstacles remained. She identified support for volunteers and cooperation between the organisations involved as important parts of the taskforce's work. Scottish Women's Premier League managing director Fiona McIntyre highlighted ambitions for larger crowds, more professional opportunities and sustained investment in the game.

The programme also involves those responsible for local sporting provision. Cosla representatives pointed to councils' role in facilities and programmes, while Sportscotland chief executive Forbes Dunlop welcomed the opportunity to improve participation and progression. The targets remain ambitions for the coming decade; the funding announced for this year is an initial commitment, not a stated budget for the entire programme.