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England manager Gareth Southgate has told Sky News it is "hugely important" to overcome funding challenges to find the cash for grassroots facilities.

Breaking away from preparations for this year's Qatar World Cup, Southgate welcomed the £92m that the Football Foundation announced on Wednesday would be invested in multisports projects.

The government-funded sports charity, which is also supported by the FA and Premier League, secured additional funding to encourage sports participation and produce the stars of the future.

"Funding for facilities is difficult to attain and is hugely important," Southgate told Sky News. "That funding between the FA, the Premier League and the government - it's crucial."

Southgate was speaking at a Football Foundation event at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub in west London where he was joined by sports figures, including coaches of England rugby teams.

"Where this is a great step forward is involving other sports," Southgate said. "I think for years we haven't collaborated well enough on the community sites, community facilities and the opportunity for kids to come to their local area.

"Maybe football might be the hook that brings them in but they might prefer other sports or they might be better at other sports."

Football Foundation chairman Martin Glenn, who appointed Southgate as England manager while FA chief executive in 2016, said it is important the government maintains funding for grassroots sports despite the worsening cost of living crisis.

"I think it's absolutely legitimate for grassroots sport to have some funding to capitalise on what the football family already does because it happens in every other country in Europe," Mr Glenn told Sky News.

"I think it's a pretty straightforward case. Not easy because money is tight. But I think you see facilities … it's a great return on investment."

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The Football Foundation has earmarked 40% of its funding for the next three years in projects that benefit a range of sports in addition to football.

"We focus our energies now on poorer areas," Mr Glenn said.

"People in poorer areas have less chance to play on good quality facilities than those in more affluent areas. So that's where the focus is. So it's part of the levelling up agenda as well."

But the Football Foundation's plans for new pitches and training facilities could be hit by surging inflation.

Mr Glenn said: "There are no conscious delays. But if building costs have gone up by 15% that will have an impact on the number of projects that we do or delay them like anyone else."