England amputee team's World Cup dream on hold

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that England’s men’s amputee football team may be unable to travel to the Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico because it has not secured enough money to cover the trip. The team, which won the Nations League and reached the last 16 at the 2022 World Cup, has launched a GoFundMe appeal seeking £50,000 for the tournament in November. The fundraiser had reached £32,427 at the time of the report.

Former England amputee head coach Scott Rogers told BBC Breakfast the situation was “criminal,” saying players, staff and families had made major sacrifices to reach this stage. He said the current reliance on public appeals and donations is not a sustainable way to fund a national programme.

BBC Sport says the Football Association funds other para national teams, but support for the amputee programme ended in 2006. The England Amputee Football Association later became a charity and now depends on volunteers and donations to run men’s, women’s and junior teams. Rogers said FA representatives observed the team at the 2022 World Cup and later made a funding offer, but it was not considered sufficient; he added that the FA has indicated there is not currently money available to bring amputee football under its umbrella.

Goalkeeper Thomas Atkinson said England’s players are effectively paying to play while some international opponents receive full backing from clubs or governing bodies. BBC Sport noted the FA reported £516m turnover and £6m operating profit in 2024-25, and said it had contacted the FA for comment.