The England men’s amputee football team is one of the best in the world, but they might not be able to play in the World Cup this November. The team is struggling to raise £50,000 to travel to the tournament in Mexico.
The players, who are all volunteers and have regular jobs, have won major trophies like the Nations League in 2023. However, they do not receive financial support from the Football Association (FA), the governing body of English football.
Currently, the FA funds six other disability football teams, but amputee football is not included. The FA cut funding for the amputee team in 2006. Since then, the team has operated as a charity. They rely on donations and volunteers to pay for doctors, coaches, and equipment.
For the players, representing their country is a major sacrifice. They do not get paid to play and must use their own work holidays to attend tournaments. Next month, the players even have to pay for their own flights to play a match in Ireland.
Scott Rogers, the team's former head coach, says the situation is unfair. He points out that £50,000 is a very small amount compared to the millions of pounds in English football. While the team successfully raised money through television appearances in the past, Rogers warns that this is not a reliable long-term solution.
Although the FA says it is working with the team to support their development, they have not offered enough funding to cover their main costs. Without regular support, Rogers fears the team will slowly lose its high-quality program and struggle to compete in the future.