The Scottish FA and the Scottish government have officially launched Project 2035, an ambitious 10-year strategy aimed at transforming women's and girls' football across the country. Backed by £250,000 in government funding this year, the collaborative initiative focuses on driving up participation levels, strengthening pathways into the sport, and establishing Scotland as a leading nation in women's football over the coming decade.
Key targets within the strategy include doubling the total number of registered female footballers in Scotland while quadrupling match attendances and viewing audiences. On the international stage, the ambition is to secure regular qualification for major tournaments—a milestone the Scotland women's national side has not reached since the 2019 World Cup. The squad is currently preparing for an upcoming World Cup play-off against Sweden next month.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell underlined the importance of tournament exposure, pointing to the impact witnessed during the men's World Cup in the summer and noting that replicating that platform would bring undeniable benefits to the women's game. First Minister John Swinney also praised the initiative's wider social reach, stating that football has the power to bring communities together, improve health and wellbeing, and inspire young people. Swinney added that the overarching ambition is to ensure every girl in Scotland who wants to participate can do so as a player, coach, official, volunteer, supporter, or leader.
While the strategy builds on recent growth across grassroots and professional levels—where participation, investment, and crowds have risen—stakeholders acknowledge that barriers remain regarding facilities, coaching pathways, volunteer support, and player retention. To navigate these obstacles and monitor performance against the 10-year targets, delivery will be guided by a dedicated taskforce comprising the Scottish government, the SFA, Scottish Women's Football, the Scottish Women's Premier League, PFA Scotland, Sportscotland, and Cosla.