The England team cannot go to the World Cup on their own, as the FA has refused to help.

England's disabled football team is at risk of missing the 2026 World Cup because of insufficient funding, even as the FA faces criticism for failing to finance the Nations League winners.

An unbelievable story is stirring up English football fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite having secured a place in the biggest football event for disabled teams, England is still in danger of not participating simply because of... a shortage of funds.

This information was shared by head coach Scott Rogers, who led the England men's disabled football team to win the 2023 Nations League. According to him, the team is urgently trying to raise approximately £50,000 to cover the costs of attending the World Cup in Mexico this November.

The notable point is that while the England team for 11-a-side football receives tens of millions of pounds in bonuses and over £1 million in preparation funds after the World Cup, the disabled football team does not receive similar financial support from the FA.

According to the coach, the FA currently funds six disabled football teams, but amputee football is not among those supported. FA representatives said the current budget is insufficient to include this program.

In fact, the England disabled football team was under FA management until 2006, when funding was cut. Since then, the team has operated as a charity organization, relying mainly on donations and a volunteer network to survive.

Despite financial difficulties, disabled football in England is still thriving. The women's team reached the quarterfinals of the first World Cup in 2024, while the youth system currently has over 70 players aged 4 to 17. The coaching staff is quite professional, including doctors, fitness experts, analysts, and technical coaches.

However, the biggest issue remains funding. Rogers said that previously, each player had to pay around £1,500 to participate in international tournaments, but that rule was abolished to ease the burden on members.

In 2024, the team appeared on the TV show Good Morning Britain and raised over £50,000 in just a few hours to attend the Euros. However, this fundraising model is not sustainable. So far, the team has not yet raised half of the amount needed for the World Cup campaign.

"These people are not paid to play; they have jobs. If the program doesn't reach a certain level, what motivation do they have to keep playing? They have to sacrifice family holidays.", Rogers shared.

In response to the controversy, the FA stated that it maintains a close relationship with the English Amputee Football Association and will continue to support the sport's development. However, the governing body has not committed to providing funds for the team to attend the World Cup.

With the tournament just a few months away, the England disabled football team is still racing against time to secure enough financial resources. Without additional support soon, the Nations League champions could miss the World Cup for a reason unrelated to their performance on the field.