FOI/202600520944 · FOI · partially withheld
Ministers attendance at FIFA World Cup: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for, regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
For each of the following categories (1) Scottish Government Ministers, (2) Scottish Government officials, and (3) other Scottish Government staff, please state:
a) How many individuals will be attending any World Cup matches or associated events, funded in whole or in part by the Scottish Government;
b) The expected cost to the public purse, broken down by flights, accommodation, subsistence, and hospitality/tickets;
c) Whether any travel was booked in business or first class;
d) The stated official purpose or justification for each individual's attendance.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
The First Minister and Maree Todd, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs both travelled to the USA in an official capacity to support the national team at the World Cup and undertake a programme of engagements. The First Minister undertook a series of engagements in Boston and Kentucky and attended the Scotland vs Haiti match on 13th June. Ms Todd undertook a series of engagements in Miami and attended the Scotland vs Brazil game on 24th June.
In terms of tickets, both the First Minister and Ms Todd, and their officials, attended at the invitation of FIFA. There was no cost to the public purse.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to that information.
In terms of both the First Minister's visit and the visit of Maree Todd, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, the costs of the visits are being collated at present and it is our intention to publish these within 12 weeks. This publication will also confirm the number of officials attending in support of each Minister and the class of travel. This is a formal notice under Section 27(1) that the information is intended for future publication.
This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because of the use of public funds to support this visit, and this will be met by our planned publication. In the meantime, there is a greater public interest in taking the time necessary to ensure the information has been properly collated and checked before it is published as planned. Also, we see no public interest in disrupting our programme of work to release the information ahead of the intended publication date.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to that information. This is a formal notice under Section 27(1) that the information is intended for future publication. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.
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