Introduction to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme

As shown in the global report, well-organised youth football systems contribute towards senior success. The completion of the 18-month global ecosystem analysis (ESA) revealed two complementary findings:

• A clear view of the global imbalance that exists in football, and
• the great potential of the MAs’ talent development programmes to tackle this imbalance

As highlighted by the FIFA President at the 71st FIFA Congress in May 2021, the TDS will offer "a tailor-made concept for each country on how best to operate to give every talent a chance". The TDS provides bespoke consultancy services for the long-term collaboration on talent development based upon four pillars of support.

The TDS aims to create a sustainable legacy for long-term talent development by maximising each participating MA’s opportunities, as identified in their individual ESA report. In doing so, FIFA will support each participating MA to reach its full potential and give every talent a chance.

To apply for the TDS and to be eligible to receive funding in 2022, each MA must meet the criteria outlined below. 

• Complete the ESA. Any MAs that did not participate in the ESA will be provided with another opportunity to do so.
• Complete an application form outlining the MA’s strategic priorities, how the TDS project will be managed, and a signed declaration. 

There will be two windows in which to submit applications for the TDS, which will close in March 2022 and June 2022. FIFA’s high-performance specialists will assess each application, along with the ESA findings, to determine whether an MA is ready, willing and able to participate in the TDS.

Successful applicants will enter a planning phase in 2022. With the support of dedicated FIFA high-performance specialists, the focus of this phase is for the MA to plan and prepare for the implementation of the TDS from 2023. This will include the identification of key objectives, alignment with associated stakeholders, and the development of a long-term strategic plan.

FIFA will provide each MA that successfully applies for the TDS in 2022 with funding of USD 50,000. An MA may use this funding for the following activities as it prepares for the implementation phase of the TDS*: 

• Project organisation support for the TDS (e.g. recruiting a dedicated project lead) 
• Further analysis of one or more of the six key areas of the MA’s ESA report 
• Pilot project based on the recommendations set out in the MA’s ESA report 
• Alignment with the key stakeholders within the MA’s talent development ecosystem

Each MA that successfully applies for the TDS in 2022 will be supported by a dedicated team of FIFA high-performance specialists who will help the MA to develop, iterate and execute a long-term plan for talent development. 

The full implementation phase of the TDS will begin in 2023 and will be supported by training and education through the FIFA Training Centre, and knowledge-sharing with accompanying financial and non-financial resources that will be provided to each participating MA on an annual basis from 2023 onwards.

Throughout the TDS, each participating MA will be the driver of their own projects, with their dedicated high-performance specialist taking on the role of a “thought partner” to help in the design and implementation of the assigned talent development initiatives linked to an MA’s overall objectives. 

Further details on the implementation of the TDS from 2023 on-wards will be announced in due course. If you have any questions regarding the TDS, please do not hesitate to contact the High-Performance Programme Department at tds@fifa.org.