FOI/202600500721 · FOI · partially withheld
Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 documentation: FOI release
Information requested
Any internal and external correspondence, including attachments, as well as memos, minutes, agendas, appendixes and any other information held by the Scottish Government regarding Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 since the beginning of November 2025.
Response
I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested.
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This information relates to personal information of individuals below the grade of a senior civil servant.
An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Disclosure of this information would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of an individual.
An exemption under section 25(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. This information relates to a closing speech which the Minister for Drugs, Alcohol Policy and Sport, gave during a Members Debate on Scotland qualifying for the football world cup which took place on 10 December 2025. A link to the Official Report can be found here: Meeting of the Parliament: 10/12/2025 | Scottish Parliament Website.
An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This relates to information which helps to formulate Scottish Government policy.
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 it relates how we are planning to engage around the World Cup. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications.
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.
Detected exemption language
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. An exemption under section 39(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. An exemption under section 25(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. An exemption under section 29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.