INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING

How an enterprising consultancy firm is utilising artificial intelligence to transform the footballing fortunes of international minnows

- Words: Jamie Evans

In October of last year, the players of Samoa's Under-17 Women's side made history. Almost 40 years on from the federation becoming a FIFA member in 1986, the country had a team at a global tournament for the first time.

Two months on, Samoa's nearest neighbours, American Samoa, made some history of their own as their women's team won for the first time in their history by beating Tonga 3-0. Not only that, they picked up their second victory just three days later, this time a 4-0 win over the Cook Islands, to advance to the next stage of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Both of those landmark achievements came in part thanks to two British scouts and an innovative approach to international player recruitment that utilises Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A glance through Samoa's squad for the tournament in Morocco revealed its cosmopolitan nature. Many of the players involved play their football in the United States, New Zealand or Australia, and many also had names that would not immediately stand out as Polynesian in origin. Similarly, all but three of the American Samoan women's players are based in the US. Many of them were recruited thanks to Russell Gurr and Alastair McLae, co-founders of the International Football Consultancy (IFC).

Although both men are from footballing backgrounds – Russell, who lives in Scotland, has worked as a scout for Scottish Championship side Ross County while Alastair, based in New Zealand, is an OFC-licensed coach – it is their use of AI that gives them their USP.