The Minns Labor Government has announced an investment of $400,000 towards women's football as a bonus of NSW hosting 11 games at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

The NSW Football Legacy Program includes five key initiatives designed to grow and support women’s football at every level, ensuring a lasting impact from NSW hosting matches during the tournament — including the Final at Stadium Australia on 21 March.

Here’s what the program offers:

• Women in Leadership Program: Designed to boost confidence and leadership skills among women in football, helping them step into or grow in leadership roles while building a strong network of advocates for the game.
• Body Image and Wellbeing Program: Aimed at female players aged 13 to 18 in the National Premier League, this initiative focuses on promoting healthy body image and overall wellbeing.
• Flexible Football Initiative: Introduces more accessible and adaptable ways for women to get involved in grassroots football, removing traditional barriers to participation.
• Coach and Referee Mentor Program: Helps develop a strong network of female coaches and referees by pairing them with experienced mentors, creating role models and encouraging more women to take on these important roles.
• First Nations Football: Supports young First Nations footballers (aged 14–16) and coaches by providing opportunities to train and grow in high-performance environments.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper stated that the Minns Labor Government aims to build on the success of recent women’s football events to create a lasting, inclusive legacy for women and girls in NSW through the NSW Football Legacy Program.

“Women’s sport has seen tremendous growth and success in recent years, including the unforgettable performances of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023," Kamper said in a press release.

“The Minns Labor Government wants to ensure that the momentum from that tournament and NSW’s hosting of 11 games at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ leaves a lasting legacy for women’s football in NSW at all levels.

“The initiatives delivered through the NSW Football Legacy Program will ensure football is a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for women and girls to play the World Game."

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas welcomed the NSW Government’s support, saying it will help make football more accessible, safe, and inclusive for women and girls as Football NSW works toward gender parity.

“Football NSW has experienced unprecedented growth in female football and we are delighted with the NSW Government’s continued commitment to our game," Tsatsimas said in a press release

“The initiatives being supported, including the Empower Her body image and wellbeing program, will help to ensure that football is an accessible, safe and enjoyable sport for women and girls across the state.

“We look forward to seeing the impact of these new and expanded programs over the coming years as Football NSW continues towards the goal of gender parity in our game.”

The $400,000 investment and the initiatives within the NSW Football Legacy Program mark a significant step forward in strengthening women’s football across the state.

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For decades, women in Victoria were prohibited from participating in organised football, thereby being pushed aside as the men's game dominated the field. The tide, however, has turned. What was previously a sport confined to half of the population is being changed by girls lacing up their boots and women leading from the front.

Over 21,000 women and girls started playing football in 2024, fuelled by the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ and the Matildas' semi-final success. Football, with over 221,000 female players registered countrywide, is not only Australia's most popular team sport, but also one of its fastest growing.

This past week, Female Football Week 2025 (FFW) highlighted the movement that is restructuring the game. The nationwide initiative, which runs from May 2 to 11, is more than a celebration. It is a catalyst for sustained change.

A Nationwide Celebration with Local Impact

Organised by Football Australia in collaboration with member federations and clubs, FFW 2025 includes leadership panels, grassroots clinics, gala days, and coaching masterclasses to empower women at all levels of the sport.

Football Queensland’s Senior Manager - Game Development, Kate Lawson, anticipated an action-packed agenda that would capture the imaginations of both returning and new competitors.

“There are going to be more eyes on football in Australia than ever before. The increased representation of women in our game has everyone buzzing this year, which is why this Female Football Week is set to be the biggest and most exciting yet,” she said via press release.

Across the country, similar initiatives are igniting change. Football Queensland presented the FFW Awards to recognise local women's football legends, while Football Victoria continued its all-female commentary round in the NPLW, bringing women's voices to the forefront of the game.

At the grassroots level, activities such as The Gap FC's Mother's Day celebration and FFW gala in Brisbane highlight the important role that families play in developing the next generation of players.

Behind the Data: Real Growth, Real Stories

The statistics tell one story. Football participation across Australia has increased 11% to 1.91 million participants by 2024, with female participation up 16%. Queensland alone had a 44% increase in women and girls playing the game throughout its ten regions. Female involvement in Football NSW increased by 17% throughout the winter season.

However, behind these numbers are the individuals who are transforming the game.

The increase in female football involvement is more than just a statistic; it's a tapestry of personal experiences that illustrate the movement's depth and variety.

In the ACT, Tina McLeary serves as secretary of Brindabella Blues FC, a club with approximately 1,000 members. Her football adventure began with her children, but she rapidly became a significant driver of change, taking on management duties and guiding inclusive club strategy.

“We were able to get the boys there and show that these 10 and 11-year-old boys don't care, there's no gender relationship there. They just want to be a part of this. They just want to go kick the ball and see the game,” she shared, reflecting on the shifting culture in football.

In Western Sydney, Katelyn Smith is making her mark with CommBank ParaMatildas. After health issues halted her early football dreams, she discovered her calling with CP Football. Katelyn, a Golden Glove winner and national team striker, is not only scoring goals but also coaching the next generation of footballers with disabilities, demonstrating what is possible.

Women are also excelling in roles off the pitch. Jessica Jensen (Football QLD), Daphne Gounaris (Football Victoria), and Alana Zic (Football NSW) are three female referees breaking down boundaries in refereeing. Refereeing for the women allows them to improve themselves, connect with others, and lead with integrity and confidence.

In Tasmania, Jess Woodroffe of Launceston City FC has contributed to shaping her club's infrastructure and culture. The club has recently added gender-friendly changing rooms, in addition to increasing the number of female board members and players, primarily from their campaigning and inclusive community forums.

Challenges Ahead—and a Bold Vision for the Future

Despite the momentum, obstacles remain. Numerous clubs are operating above their capacity, putting a strain on coaching resources, infrastructure, and equipment. As more girls get involved with the sport, retention becomes crucial, especially throughout adolescence, when many abandon it due to a lack of clear paths or mentors.

Football Australia has set an ambitious goal: gender parity in community football by 2027.

Interim CEO of Football Australia, Heather Garriock, believes Female Football Week 2025 has highlighted just how vital women’s football has become.

“Female Football Week 2025 has underscored the critical importance of women’s football to the future of our game. The growth we’re seeing at every level, from grassroots to the elite, is not only remarkable, but also reshaping the landscape of Australian sport,” she said via press release.

Conclusion: From Moment to Movement

FFW 2025 is about more than simply celebrating progress—it's about maintaining it. Women's football is no longer an afterthought, through community-led events, national investment, and strong representation.

It’s at the centre of the conversation.

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Football Australia (FA) has today inked a landmark deal with telecommunications heavyweight Superloop (ASX: SLC) in a massive boost for the prestigious Hahn Australia Cup competition.

The telco challenger has secured naming rights as the official category partner for the Cup and also committed to revolutionising the sports broadcast capabilities through cutting-edge AI technology.

Superloop founded in 2014, is an Australian telecommunications company and internet service provider (ISP) that offers high speed connectivity to consumers with NBN deals and new AI connectivity.

The Hahn Australia Cup will benefit enormously from Superloop's involvement as the telco giant looks to bolster its brand presence among the football market.

The multi-faceted deal will see Superloop deliver bespoke connectivity solutions, including business-grade NBN internet and mobile data services and AI technology cameras distributed to fields around the country.

This will support not just live broadcasts but also real-time collection of match and player statistics.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson described the collaboration as a pivotal moment in FA’s digital transformation.

"In today's connected world, high-speed, reliable internet infrastructure is paramount. Superloop's expertise and technology will allow us to deliver a more dynamic and engaging live streaming experience to fans nationwide, while unlocking cost efficiencies and new revenue streams for the sport," Johnson said via FA official press release.

Already, Darwin Football Stadium has been kitted out with Superloop's dedicated high-speed NBN connectivity, powering 4K resolution streams of all Men's and Women's Premier League fixtures.

The agreement blends well for Football Australia's recent centralisation of live production and distribution for over 3,500 matches annually, spanning state leagues to flagship national competitions.

Superloop Group Executive for Business & Wholesale, Daisy Stampfer, highlighted the company's commitment to Australian sport.

"We recognise the transformative power of connectivity in sports broadcasting and are committed to delivering the high-performance network solutions that will power FA's vision for the future of football streaming."

"Our exclusive sponsorship of the Hahn Australia Cup and our connectivity partnership with Football Australia underscores our dedication to supporting the growth and innovation of Australian grassroots sport," Stampfer said via official FA press release.

This is a huge new step for Australian Football at all levels giving all clubs in the country and competitions support with the streamlined viewership nationally to enhance the game at little cost for the clubs.

For businesses such as Superloop, the football community is an untapped industry for them to help develop, market and stand out.

The footballing environment creates great publicity for the company and enduring respect in the community for future endeavours.

The strategic relationship promises a new era of digital engagement with the beautiful game, from suburban pitches to national showcases.

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Football Australia has announced the launch of the #FootballUnites campaign highlighting the role football plays in bringing the community together.

The campaign begins with the first in a series of short films, sharing real stories of belonging, resilience, and connection told by the people who’ve lived them, including grassroots players, pro athletes, coaches, referees, and community leaders from all over Australia.

Created in partnership with multicultural marketing agency CulturalPulse, the #FootballUnites campaign tells powerful, people-focused stories that show how football can bring communities together.

At a time when our social fabric feels stretched, #FootballUnites highlights how the game crosses boundaries and connects people.

For many new migrants, football has been more than just a sport—it’s been a common language, a way to feel at home, and a source of connection in unfamiliar surroundings.

Across Australia, football continues to break down walls of race, language, gender, and religion.

The campaign will also feature voices from federal politicians who understand and support football’s important role in building unity.

The first video tells the story of Nahom Legesse from Brunswick City SC and includes reflections from Peter Khalil MP, Federal Member for Wills and Special Envoy for Social Cohesion, who speaks to the sport’s impact on multicultural communities.

Football Australia will roll out the campaign across digital platforms, aiming to reach not only fans of the game but also community organisations, decision-makers, and leaders highlighting football’s broader role in strengthening social bonds.

More videos in the #FootballUnites series are on the way, continuing to showcase how football helps build inclusive communities, with further contributions from federal leaders who advocate for unity and social cohesion.

Football Australia Chair Anter Isaac highlighted the significance of the campaign.

“Football has always been more than a sport—it’s a powerful social connector," Mr Isaac said in a press release.

“The stories shared in #FootballUnites are raw, authentic and deeply moving.

"They reflect football’s unique ability to bring people together across differences and give individuals—no matter their background—a place to feel seen, heard, and valued.

"These aren’t just football stories; they are stories of Australia.”

Football Australia CEO James Johnson spoke about the importance of #FootballUnites.

"As the most played team sport in the country, football reaches deep into every community,” Mr Johnson said in a press release.

“It’s a game that connects people—whether they’ve just arrived in Australia or have lived here for generations.

"Through #FootballUnites, we’re shining a light on the inspiring individuals and communities who show us how football fosters belonging, breaks down prejudice, and strengthens the social bonds that make us stronger as a nation.”

To learn more about the campaign or watch Legesse's story, you can visit Football Australia's website HERE.

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Football West joins Football Australia in welcoming the 2025 Female Football Week, recognising the contributions of women and girls in football across the state.

Female Football Week (FFW) is a nationwide initiative that focuses on the crucial role that women and girls in football play in the community, whilst celebrating their achievements across every sector of the game.

FFW will take place from 2-10 May, and have numerous activations and events as part of the initiative, including coaching courses, webinars and a free girls five-a-side tournament.

Events taking place:

Monday 5 May

Coaching Webinar: Backing High-Performing Teams Off the Field

This session is tailored for community coaches, aspiring coaches, and parents of players. Learn how the off-field environment we shape can have a big impact on on-field success. Hear from guest speakers as they share strategies for creating safe, supportive spaces that help individuals thrive both on and off the pitch.

Hosted by Women Onside’s Samantha Lewis, the panel will also share their personal journeys in football and explore how we can continue to grow the game across Australia.

Time: 6–7pm (WST)
MC: Samantha Lewis (Women Onside)

Panellists:

• Janet Drakos – National Female Wellbeing Manager, Football Australia
• Faye Chambers – Coach Education Tutor, Football Australia
• Louise McColl – Coach Education Tutor, Football Australia
• Lizzie Ramsey – Coach Engagement Lead, Growing Football Fund, Football Australia

Register Here

Wednesday 7 May

Female Football Week Award Winners Announced

Join us as we reveal this year’s Female Football Week Award recipients, recognising the outstanding contributions of women across all levels of the game.

Awards include: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Referee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Community Club Champion of the Year

Volunteers Webinar: Securing and Delivering a Successful Grant Project

Designed for clubs aiming to strengthen their grant applications and deliver impactful projects, this webinar will explore what makes a strong grant proposal, how to build relationships with key stakeholders, and how to plan and manage a successful grant budget.

Time: 6–7pm (WST)
MC: Samantha Lewis (Women Onside)

Panellists:

• Michaela Haley – General Manager, Growing Football Fund, Football Australia
• Jess Woodroffe – Director & Secretary, Launceston City FC
• Nikola Orgill – Senior Manager, Government and Stakeholder Relations, Women’s Asian Cup 2026 LOC
• Jessica Clay – Finance Manager, Planning and Reporting, Football Australia

Register Here

Thursday 8 May

Officiating Webinar: Breaking Down Barriers for Women in Sports Officiating

Aimed at community members and aspiring referees, this session features a panel of experienced female officials discussing their pathways in elite refereeing. Learn how they're shaping supportive environments to help more women and girls thrive in sports officiating.

Time: 6–7pm (WST)
MC: Samantha Lewis (Women Onside)

Panellists:

• Karen Hennessy – National Female Engagement Lead, Football Australia
• Belinda Sharpe – NRL Match Official & Project Coordinator, Strategy & Umpire
• Eloise Sheridan – Learning and Development Lead, Refereeing (Football Australia) & International Umpire (Cricket Australia)

Register Here

Friday 9 May

Women in Football Breakfast

Join us for a special celebration of women in football over breakfast at the Sam Kerr Football Centre. The event will feature a panel Q&A with inspiring voices in the game, reflecting on progress, challenges, and the future of women’s football.

Note: This event is fully subscribed

Saturday 10 May

Girls 5-a-Side Tournament

Football West invites girls to join a FREE five-a-side tournament as part of the Female Football Week celebrations.

Time: 8:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Sam Kerr Football Centre
Eligibility: Open to girls born between 2009–2011 (U14–U16)

A great opportunity to showcase skills, make new friends, and be part of the football community!

Register Here

All-Female C Diploma Coaching Course

Join us for the fourth and final contact of the FREE All-Female C Diploma coaching course at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

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A Government program designed to increase female participation in sports will provide almost 50 clubs and organisations with support to upgrade and develop sporting facilities, programs and equipment.

Around $5.4 million has been allocated for the 2024-25 round of The Power of Her - Infrastructure and Participation Program (IPP), which aims to create more inclusive spaces for girls and women in sports.

The funded projects include things like unisex clubrooms, better lighting and playing surfaces, new uniforms and equipment, and opportunities for professional development.

The South Australian Government led by Peter Malinauskas launched the program to build on the success of the Matildas and the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To support the growth of girls' and women’s football, 14 football clubs will receive nearly $2.4 million in funding this round.

Other sports also benefit from the program, such as basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, gymnastics, and Australian Rules Football, providing more chances for girls and women to get involved and succeed in their chosen sports.

For example, Norwood Basketball Club is receiving $14,600 to launch their ‘Rising Flames’ program, helping girls progress to elite senior levels and develop local talent.

Other projects funded through the program include:

• Metro United Women’s Football Club, Pooraka: $25,000 for new uniforms.
• Booleroo Centre Tennis Club: $80,000 to resurface three tennis courts, replace fencing, and build a new equipment shed for their drought-affected club.
• Cove Netball Hub: $392,700 to build four new netball courts in Hallett Cove.
• Elizabeth Grove Soccer Club: $750,000 (through the council) for a new clubroom, synthetic soccer pitch, and multi-purpose oval at Munno Para Regional Sportsground, Davoren Park.

So far, over $7.6 million has been distributed through the IPP, with the second year providing more than twice the amount of support compared to the first round.

Nearly half of the infrastructure project recipients this round – including Jervois Bluds Netball Club and Murraylands Gymnastics Academy – are located in regional and greater metropolitan areas, showing the broad impact on communities across South Australia.

The State Government has committed $18 million to the IPP over three years, with $10 million specifically set aside for football.

This effort is part of a wider push to eliminate barriers to female participation, including support for clubs with period products and menstrual health training.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Emily MLC Bourke highlighted the importance of supporting women in sport at a grassroots level.

"Our Government recognises the importance of supporting grassroots sports to ensure girls and women have opportunities to thrive in whichever sport they pursue," she said in a press release.

"Having the right facilities, programs and equipment in place gives girls and women the space and confidence they need to get involved and stay active with their local club.

"As The Power of Her investment continues to grow, it’s inspiring to see clubs and organisations finding new and creative ways to grow female participation and facilitate high performance pathways in their communities."

For more information, you can find the full list of 2024-2025 IPP grants here.

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In recent news the A-league viewership on sky sports has climbed significantly in New Zealand.

Official A-League media sources have identified that 1.31 million people have watched the A-League through Sky Sports media channels this season.

This confirms an impressive 40% increase in viewership for the 2024-25 season.

To add to this an additional 228k, a 46% increase, and 167k, a prominent 115% increase, have also streamed on Sky's digital platforms.

This amounts to a huge increase in viewership of the sport for New Zealand and also a large portion of the respective nation’s population, displaying football's huge popularity in Australia’s close neighbour.

Sky Sports extended their exclusive rights for the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Ninja A-League Women at the beginning of this season and this deal will be the sole provider for 2 more seasons.

Both Leagues through this season are available not only on Sky Sports but also Sky Sport Now and Sky Go.

This upward trend in popularity can be attributed to the addition of a second New-Zealand team in Auckland FC, who currently sit at the top of the A-League and look positioned to win the minor premiership.

To match this news with viewership Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix have both recorded some of the highest game attendance in the league throughout most of their home games.

Auckland FC has had the overall highest attendance with a total of 211,095 so far and an average of 17,591. With the biggest attendance their derby against Wellington Phoenix at just above 27,000.

Auckland FC worst attendance at around 13,000 is almost double the next most attended team, Sydney FC. Wellington Phoenix have also recorded high attendance with 99,677 up to this point.

Though down averagely from last season, to maintain these numbers after a title chasing seasons shows fan dedication from the Kiwis.

The introduction of a new team from New Zealand's biggest city has turned out to be a successful investment by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

It has increased viewership, attendance and all round enjoyment in the A-league, helping the APL increase in value and quality this season.

The APL and New Zealand must now build on this momentum to keep viewership strong and continue growing the beautiful game across Aotearoa.

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The growing participation of women and girls in soccer throughout the Hepburn Shire is set to receive a significant boost, with two local facilities earmarked for major upgrades.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King announced the funding commitment which targets Victoria Park in Daylesford and the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick.

This funding is totalled at $1.2 million should the Federal Labor Government secure re-election on May 3. These upgrades address critical infrastructure shortfalls that have hindered growth in female participation.

Labor Federal MP Catherine King, who has held the Labor ‘stronghold’ seat since the 2022 election has been vocal in her support for women’s football and the struggles faced.

"The current situation where women and girls are forced to use men's changerooms, cars or old sheds for match preparation is simply not acceptable in modern sport," King commented via The Ballarat Times.

"These clubs have created welcoming environments that women and girls want to be part of, and these upgrades will provide the facilities they deserve."

The Daylesford and Hepburn United Soccer Club, which currently supports approximately 150 players including 40 female participants, has been forced to implement membership caps due to inadequate pitch capacity.

The proposed reconfiguration at Victoria Park will deliver two senior-sized pitches, accommodating the surge in junior and women's participation.

Meanwhile, at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, funding will enable the construction of additional female-friendly changing facilities for both players and officials.

The commitment reflects the changing landscape of Australian soccer, with female participation rates continuing to climb nationwide.

Local sporting administrators have welcomed the announcement, noting that inadequate facilities have long been identified as a significant barrier to growing female participation in grassroots sport.

These election commitments would be delivered in accordance with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles should the Albanese Government secure another term.

The need for development of local facilities has become more evident and pressing. Most amateur clubs primary funding for upgrades is through government grants.

Sport is such an integral part of the Australian landscape and the need for fair opportunity for women gains momentum, promises like this hold great hope for people and lasting positive impacts.

As the most played sport in the state and Australia, especially among women, its positive to hear that, like other codes football is getting the recognition and support it deserves.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced a new industry partnership with La Trobe University as their official Education Partner for the next four years.

This collaboration highlights La Trobe’s ongoing commitment to giving students valuable opportunities to connect with the sports industry and gain hands-on learning experiences.

Throughout the alliance, La Trobe and the PFA will collaborate on important research and consulting projects.

They’ll also offer a jointly funded PhD scholarship focused on research that supports the well-being and development of professional footballers.

Each year, the PFA will host three La Trobe students for work placements across different areas of sport, giving them the chance to gain real-world experience within the organisation.

La Trobe will also work with the PFA to create a specialised education program tailored to football, and the PFA will have access to La Trobe’s top-tier sport and exercise science research facilities at the La Trobe Sports Park.

On top of that, PFA members who choose to study at La Trobe will be supported through the La Trobe Elite Athlete Program (LEAP), which helps athletes balance their studies with their playing careers.

This includes flexible and online learning options, plus a new scholarship program for selected players.

Chief Executive of Professional Footballers Australia, Beau Busch, said the opportunity to partner with La Trobe would further enhance its ability to support the holistic development of players and further elevate its research capacity.

“La Trobe University provides world class education and learning, research programs and sporting facilities,” Busch said via press release.

“The partnership will ensure that players have access to flexible professional development opportunities, quality sporting infrastructure when undertaking their coaching qualifications, whilst their careers will be further advanced through a comprehensive research commitment.

“We also see our partnership with La Trobe centred on sharing our institutional knowledge with students to help them develop their educational experience and professional networks within the sporting industry.”

La Trobe Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health Innovation and Dean of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Professor Russell Hoye, said the formation of the partnership with the PFA underlined La Trobe’s commitment to providing outstanding student employability outcomes within the sport industry.

“This partnership with the PFA will provide our students with access to unique work-integrated learning opportunities within an organisation that supports professional footballers with health, education and professional development,” Professor Hoye said via press release.

“La Trobe also looks forward to assisting professional footballers to undertake higher education studies across our suite of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.”

By combining academic expertise with the practical needs of athletes, this collaboration aims to support players both on and off the pitch, fostering a more sustainable and educated future for the game.

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The Ford Women in Leadership Graduate Network has been launched by New Zealand Football with the aim to continue supporting the learning and development of more than 100 graduates of the Ford Women in Leadership Programme.

The Ford Women in Leadership Programme, launched in 2020 and expanded as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 legacy plan, focuses on developing leadership skills, addressing biases in women’s football, and creating a community of female leaders dedicated to enhancing their influence on the game.

The programme has seen graduates from various sectors of football, including New Zealand Football, the six regional football federations, community clubs, and New Zealand Football’s partner, Ford.

The network is designed to provide a space for participants of the Ford Women in Leadership Programme to connect, learn, and grow together. It will also serve as a platform to celebrate the achievements of alumni in football, both in New Zealand and internationally.

As part of the network, participants will be invited to attend a series of events and engage in collaborative opportunities that will help further develop the game.

Paula Hansen, GM of Legacy and Special Projects at New Zealand Football, views the Graduate Network as an essential next step for the success of the Ford Women in Leadership Programme.

One of the notable graduates is Alana Gunn, New Zealand Football’s Women’s Talent Manager and U-17 head coach.

Gunn participated in the programme while coaching in the Women’s National League Championship, and since then, she has advanced to international coaching, further contributing to the growth of women’s football in New Zealand.

“The Ford Women in Leadership programme has been a great success, bringing together participants from across the country to share in an empowering experience," she said via press release.

“There are thousands of women involved in the game in various roles, yet football remains male-dominated so programmes like this are essential for building connections and creating opportunities for learning and growth.

“The Graduate Network takes this initiative further by connecting over 100 women who have participated in the programme, allowing them to continue growing together, learning from one another, and sharing their experiences of the biggest team sport in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

It will also serve as a platform to honour the achievements of alumni in the game throughout Aotearoa and beyond.

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Denver, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) newest franchise, has shared its plans to build a temporary stadium and permanent performance centre in the local city of Centennial. 

In a partnership with the City of Centennial and Cherry Creek School District, Denver NSWL will develop a 12,000-seat temporary stadium that the club will call home for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The stadium will be reduced to 4,000 seats for the 2028 season and will be used by the Cherry Creek School District. Meanwhile, the Denver NWSL team will move to a permanent 14,500 seat facility in the centre of Denver.

Leading project management is CAA Icon, who had provided advisory assistance across both stadiums. Similarly, design firm Populous will sculpt the image of the permanent and temporary stadium as well as the performance centre.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman lauded the work of Denver NWSL.

“Denver NWSL is setting a new benchmark for what it means to support professional athletes with the infrastructure they deserve," she said in a press release.

"From a world-class training environment to a thoughtfully designed temporary stadium, this initiative is an example of how our clubs are leading the way in reimagining what’s possible in women’s sports.

“We’re especially proud of the collaboration with the City of Centennial and the Cherry Creek School District, which ensures this investment will benefit generations of athletes and students for decades to come.”

Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko highlighted her city's enthusiasm for the new facilities.

“We are thrilled to welcome this new professional women’s soccer performance centre to our city," she said via press release.

"This investment in women’s sports will inspire athletes of all ages and strengthen our community’s commitment to excellence, teamwork, and opportunity.

“Centennial is proud to host the start of Colorado’s first professional women’s sports team. The temporary venue will be the first of its kind serving an NWSL club, and it will bring the added benefit of providing a long-term home for Cherry Creek School District team sporting events.”

The NWSL granted Denver a franchise back in January, and the club will first set foot on a pitch in 2026.

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The Central Coast Mariners (CCM) have recently announced the continuation of their partnership with Coast Sport Performance Health Services for their CCM program.

Central Coast Physiotherapy, operating as Coast Sport, is a Central Coast-based performance health group dedicated to delivering first-class therapy and performance services.

Their goal is to become leaders in providing world-class Allied Health and Sports Medicine services.

They achieve this through premium healthcare delivery featuring clinical excellence, evidence-based practice, gold standard technologies and integrated multidisciplinary patient management.

This partnership will provide expert medical and physiotherapy care to youth development at CCM, primarily focusing on the academies. Making sure youth players have the best care and are educated on their bodies.

CCM expressed their excitement at this renewal on their social media channels.

"We're thrilled to announce Coast Sport - Performance Health Services as a returning partner in our MCC program! With their exceptional physio services, Coast Sport plays a vital role in supporting the health and performance of our Central Coast Academy athletes," via CCM official media release.

"Their continued commitment to athlete care is integral to our development pathway, ensuring our players receive the best support on and off the field. We look forward to this continued partnership and the success it will bring!"

Physical health is crucial to the development of players and to keep them in good condition to excel in football.

The strains on young players' bodies in academies means that good physiotherapy done by experts in the field is crucial to the longevity of the players.

It is an integral part of building a successful and inviting academy, players and importantly their families need to believe they are receiving support in all forms of development.

It's also key that young players are educated on their own bodies and make sure they understand how to maintain their ability and make sure they suffer no serious injuries.

This collaboration renewal also demonstrates how the A-League club supports local community businesses.

Using local businesses even for such an integral part of development as physical health shows commitment to the region.

Partnerships like this help clubs build strong relationships with the local community and solidify their integral position as a symbol of the local business environment and society.

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Football NSW will be celebrating Female Football Week (FFW), recognising women and girls in football from May 2 to 11.

FFW is a nationwide initiative celebrating the significant growth of women’s football at all levels and recognising the vital role women play in developing the game.

The FFW Awards offer a valuable opportunity to recognise and celebrate the significant contributions of women and girls in football, highlighting their essential role in all aspects of the game. To honour the exceptional female champions within the club, nominations are being held for each of the following categories:

• Female Player of the Year
• Female Coach of the Year
• Female Referee of the Year
• Female Volunteer of the Year
• Community Champion of the Year

Each category winner will receive a prize and be nominated as Football NSW’s representative for the National FFW Awards.

Throughout the week, Football NSW and our Associations/Clubs will also actively participate in delivering female football events, including:

• Female Football Rounds
• Come + Try Sessions
• Free Skills Clinics
• Festival of Football

Football NSW's Head of Women's and Schools Football Hayley Todd expressed excitement about maintaining the momentum after a record number of community FFW events were held in 2024.

“As we reflect on the incredible growth of female football, it’s clear that the passion and commitment of female players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers are reshaping the landscape of the sport,” said Todd via press release.

“Celebrating the role of women and girls in football is not just about acknowledging achievements on and off the pitch; it’s about inspiring future generations to continue breaking barriers. Together, we are not just changing the game; we are redefining it.”

The growth of female football across all areas has been remarkable, with 2024 seeing record registrations across all participant types.

Female player registrations rose by 17%, while female coaches saw an impressive 36% increase, referees grew by 16%, and volunteers grew by 15%.

To learn more information on Football NSW's Female Football Week, click here.

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Melbourne Victory has celebrated being awarded funding under the Play Our Way program by inviting Federal Minister for Sport, the Hon. Anika Wells to Aami Park.

Play Our Way is a $200 million program from the Federal Government created after the success of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 to increase women and girls' participation in all sport.

The program seeks to achieve its goals by funding initiatives that aim to tackle the barricades that prevent women and girls from engaging with sport and physical in order to create a more equitable environment for everyone.

There were over 660 applications for the participation stream of the program, with only 70 programs across all sports and levels becoming successful recipients: of those, only four were professional clubs.

In a joint visit to Aami Park, Minister Wells and member for Macnamara Josh Burns MP spoke with key club representatives such as Managing Director Caroline Carnegie, former Matilda Lydia Williams and Melbourne Victory community program participant Tesnim Beke about the club's work to support women and girls.

Carnegie highlighted how the visit reinforced Victory's commitment to breaking down the barriers to equality in sport.

“We were honoured to welcome MP Anika Wells to Melbourne Victory to discuss and celebrate the incredibly important work we are undertaking as a Club to provide more opportunities in football for women and girls,” she said in a press release.

“Our projects will provide a program that will have an immensely positive impact on not only participation in sport, but allow individuals to grow their social and leadership skills.

“At Melbourne Victory, we aim to lead, unite, connect and inspire through football, and the Play Our Way program allows for women and girls to connect and reach their potential.

“We look forward to seeing our programs and pathways continue to welcome new participants across Victoria.”

Through funding from the Play Our Way program, Melbourne Victory now has the support it needs to build a comprehensive partnership strengthened program that will support participation in sport across schools, communities and clubs. This program will deliver important and educational physical sessions as well as workshops which encourage leadership.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has joined forces with the UK's Green Football Weekend for The Great Save 2025, a global campaign tackling football kit waste.

By bringing The Great Save to Australia, the PFA is urging clubs, players, and fans to rethink how they dispose of kit and its environmental impact.

The Great Save aims to keep sports kit in play for longer – via donations, re-sale, reusing or upcycling – helping to reduce waste, save money, and support those in the community who may otherwise lack access to kit.

The players' union is partnering with several sustainability organisations to drive real impact.

KitAid Australia and The Salvation Army will distribute donated kit to disadvantaged communities, while Unwanted FC will help players upcycle old jerseys.

With a large demand due to new fashion trends, Vintage resellers will also keep classic and retro kits in circulation.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch explained how the need for sustainability in football has become a major topic and lead to this alliance.

"Sustainability in football is increasingly important to players and fans. The Great Save 2025 offers a real chance to keep kits in use longer, reduce waste, and provide gear to communities in need," he said via press release.

"Building sustainable practices in clubs and leagues requires a whole-of-industry effort, and I'm proud that players are once again leading on this critical issue."

An extension of the PFA's Greener Games 2024, The Great Save follows the PFA's nomination for Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards.

Emma Ilijoski, a member of the PFA's climate-conscious advocacy group, Our Greener Pitch, said supporting The Great Save would help leverage football's global appeal, and connect fans and players to make an impact in the UK and Australia.

"Footballers collect a lot of gear during their careers, from junior clubs through to senior professional football," she said via press release.

"Instead of letting it go to waste, we can create a cycle where kit is reused, keeping its nostalgic value, and also benefit those in need. The Great Save makes that possible."

In 2024, the PFA's Stoppage Time report explored football's climate impact in Australia and New Zealand, sports and with that football has always had an important place for supporting sustainability.

This collaboration has the unique positions of positively effecting all pyramids in the industry in active sustainable practices and arguably having greater effect.

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The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced a series of new international media partnerships, significantly expanding its global reach ahead of the 2025 season. With coverage spanning over 130 countries, the new deals ensure broader access to live matches and highlights across key international markets.

Expanded Coverage Across Continents

ESPN has secured exclusive rights in Mexico, Central America, South America, Brazil, the Caribbean, the Netherlands, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Disney+ Nordics will provide live coverage of two matches per week along with highlight packages.

In the UK, TNT Sports will air two exclusive matches weekly, while Canadian broadcaster TSN will show one game per week, with additional matches available on TSN+.

Brazil’s Canal GOAT and Latin America’s TV Azteca will each carry up to two matches per week.

Meanwhile, Dubai TV has obtained exclusive broadcasting rights for two matches per week.

For Australian audiences, Optus Sport has acquired exclusive rights to all NWSL matches and highlight packages, ensuring full coverage for fans across the country.

Global Streaming and Accessibility

NWSL+ remains a key component of the league’s international streaming strategy. Launched in 2024, the free direct-to-consumer platform will continue to provide non-exclusive matches, highlights, replays, and team content for viewers outside the United States via Apple TV, Fire TV, and Roku TV.

In the U.S., more than 160 matches will be available across national broadcasters, including CBS, ESPN, Prime Video, and ION, while the remaining fixtures will be streamed for free on NWSL+.

NWSL Senior Vice President of Broadcast Brian Gordon spoke on the importance of securing multiple international deals at once.

"The NWSL is home to an incredible roster of world-class talent, including many of the game's top international stars," he said in a press release.

"As the global reach of our sport continues to expand, we remain committed to making our matches more accessible, connecting fans everywhere with their favourite teams and players."

A Boost for Australian Football Fans

This expanded coverage is a major win for Australian football fans, providing unprecedented access to one of the world’s premier women’s football leagues.

With Optus Sport securing exclusive rights, fans can follow top-tier women’s football with ease, further enhancing the growing popularity of the sport and league in Australia.

This move not only strengthens the global presence of the NWSL but also supports the continued growth of women’s football down under.

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Football Australia has unveiled a partnership with Live Graphics Systems (LIGR) to establish a world-first centralised production and distribution model for over 3,500 matches annually across multiple competition tiers.

This ambitious undertaking is set to transform sports broadcasting efficiency whilst unlocking future commercial opportunities for Football Australia and its nine State and Territory Member Federations.

The collaboration comes as Football Australia prepares to kick off the Australian Championship this October.

In mid-2024, Football Australia began developing a new production strategy, defining requirements across multiple tiers of Australian football.

The strategy encompasses the Hahn Australia Cup, NSD and the top tier of Federation Competitions for both men and women (National Premier Leagues), Futsal and National Para-Football Championships included as well.

LIGR's appointment followed a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process, led by Football Australia in alliance with Member Federations, aimed at identifying a single partner capable of managing the complex scale.

LIGR, an Australian tech business recently acquired by European-based tech company Crionet, will provide technical and operational broadcast management, live monitoring and AI integration across Football Australia's multi and single camera productions.

Additionally, LIGR's world-leading streaming, graphics and highlights automation platform will enable seamless integration of key sponsors on broadcasts.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

"This partnership marks a defining moment in Australian football and represents a paradigm shift in the way the game is produced, distributed and commercialised both in Australia and abroad," Johnson explained via Football Australia official press release.

“By unifying production across thousands of games and multiple tiers of competition, we are not only streamlining operations but also reshaping the future of football broadcasting in this country. This is innovation at scale.

"Through this centralised model, we are building long-term operational and cost efficiencies and can focus on building sustainable revenue streams for the connected football pyramid."

Luke McCoy, CEO of LIGR, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.

"At Crionet and LIGR, our mission is to disrupt the traditional sports production, streaming, and distribution landscape," McCoy commented via Football Australia’s official press release.

“Our partnership with Football Australia and its State and Territory Member Federations represents a groundbreaking shift towards a truly aggregated model, marking a significant milestone for sports coverage in Australia.

“Our cutting-edge technology and innovative approach sets us apart, and we are excited to elevate the game, enhance fan engagement, and drive innovation across all levels of the sport."

This multi-tier integration represents an unprecedented approach, as no other Australian rights holder has consolidated production across such a diverse range of competitions under a single centralised model.

This new centralised approach will allow the sport to optimise its production workflows and unlock new commercial opportunities in the evolving broadcast and streaming landscape.

An exciting development in increasing viewership and commercial viability for, as Football Australia's 2024 National Participation Report confirmed, the most popular and fastest growing sport in the country.

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Football NSW community registrations have rocketed beyond the 200,000 marks, keeping pace to eclipse the record numbers set in 2024, as the code's popularity continues to boom across the state.

Australia’s most populous state has been breaking records the last couple years with rising participation numbers. This year continues to solidify that trend.

Junior participation is leading the charge with more than 115,000 children aged 5-12 already signed up with local clubs as the winter football season draws near.

This sustained growth follows an exceptional 2024 season that witnessed a 9% increase in overall player registrations, with female participation skyrocketing by an impressive 17%.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas was particularly proud with the increased junior and female representation.

"It's pleasing to see the healthy number of juniors registering for the upcoming community football season," Tsatsimas commented via official Football NSW Press release.

"It's equally great to once again see female participation at the forefront of our growth.

"Our club volunteers and Associations have done a tremendous job in overseeing registrations within their local communities and we're looking forward to seeing the new season get underway in April."

Not just grassroots football in NSW, but nationwide, football participation has seen huge growth in youth and female participation.

A strong NSW football environment at the forefront of this surge is key to maintaining and cultivating participation.

Though with every increase in participating numbers, the community-based clubs bear the brunt of more demand.

Now more than ever, associations and clubs need sufficient support from the state Football federation if they want to continue these exciting results.

Though time will tell how much of an increase in players there will be, the report is promising.

How to maintain the players and bring more into the footballing community in the coming years will be the next big questions for all levels of football in the state and in the country.

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Manchester City is in the development stage of building the Manchester City Women's team a new purpose-built training facility at the City Football Academy, known as the club's training centre.

The project, valued at up to $20.5 million, is set to open next season and marks the latest chapter in the club’s ongoing investment in top-tier facilities for the team.

Once completed, the facility will include a hydrotherapy area, a high-performance gym, and a circular dressing room designed to enhance player development.

In addition to their purpose-built facility, the Women's First Team will continue to benefit from being an integral part of the $409 million City Football Academy, allowing them to utilise the organisation’s extensive resources and expertise.

To mark the beginning of construction, club captain Alex Greenwood was joined by Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill, Director of Football Therese Sjögran, and Director of Performance Services Emma Deakin for the official groundbreaking ceremony.

Club Captain Alex Greenwood reflects on the current facilities at the club and her excitement for the new development that is on the rise.

“Right from the start we’ve been involved quite a lot so we could discuss what’s going to be in there and what’s necessary. From what I know the facilities are going to be the best, which is nothing short of what I expect. I’m excited to see how it’s going to look,” she said via press release.

The facility has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of the team, with extensive consultation undertaken during the planning phase, including input from First Team Multi-Disciplinary experts and members of the playing squad.

The 17,000-square-foot building has also been designed with future expansion in mind as the team continues to grow.

Managing Director at Manchester City Women Charlotte O'Neill commented on the new facility and the beginning of its construction.

"Over the past decade, the team has benefited from being a part of the high-performance environment here, working with some of the very coaches, practitioners and support staff, as well as accessing some of the best facilities," she said via press release.

"But the time feels right for the team to move into our own purpose-built home, and we think we’ve designed something really special that will help us in our efforts to consistently challenge for major titles."

The new facility reaffirms Manchester City's commitment to women's football, aiming for success and growth through providing an environment to support the team's future ambitions.

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The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and UN Women have renewed a memorandum of understanding to improve gender equality across the Pacific.

Having first joined forces in 2022, the reinvigorated partnership will enable both organisations to tackle gender-based violence and discrimination by empowering women and girls on and off the pitch.

UN Women will support the OFC through the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership) programme, an initiative predominantly resourced by the Australian Government alongside the European Union and organised by UN Women and the Pacific Community (SPC), in a strategic partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

UN Women Fiji Country Office Representative, Delphine Serumaga outlined why the UN elected to continue the partnership with the OFC.

In the Pacific Islands, sports play an important role in shaping attitudes, values and behaviours that can promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls. UN Women is pleased to support OFC and the member associations in their commitment to make football safe, equal and inclusive,” she said in a press release.

OFC General Secretary Franck Castillo expressed how vital it was to have continued support from UN Women to progress the Confederation's work.

“Gender equality has taken an even greater focus in our region following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the first senior FIFA World Cup to be held in Oceania. The development and launch of This Is How We Football as one of our legacy programmes is a testament to this,” he said in a press release.

“Using the power of football to drive gender equality also means continuing to develop women’s football from grassroots to the elite level. Ensuring girls and women have the opportunity to perform on the field is a key part of our work to change attitudes and perceptions.

“We’ve achieved a lot in our partnership with UN Women so far and are excited to continue building on those foundations.”

The This Is How We Football initiative is a Football for Good programme designed to tear down barriers preventing women and girls from playing football. Implemented in eight countries in 2024 (Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Samoa, New Caledona, Fiji, Tonga and Kiribati), the programme will add a ninth in 2025 with the addition of Papua New Guinea.

In combination with the OFC's Just Play programme, both initiatives have rapidly improved capacity building for women. Of the 600 participants for volunteer and coaching courses in 2024, 65% were female.

Furthermore, the OFC and UN Women partnership has already achieved a litany of major successes, such as the Gender Equality Playbook 2022, The Power of Football 2023 social responsibility strategy, a localised 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign and a range of regional workshops to support women across the Confederation.

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Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) has appointed Anomaly as its creative agency to develop a fresh brand platform and visual identity for the newly established independent company overseeing the top two tiers of women’s professional football in England.

Anomaly will create a bold brand positioning, visual identity, and creative platform to drive fan growth and engagement.

The Pitch Process and Strategic Approach

During the pitch process—designed and managed by Creativebrief—Anomaly showcased a deep understanding of WPLL’s purpose, principles, and role within the sports landscape.

Aiming to prioritise originality over imitation, their proposals draw from strong research and insight. By integrating specialist expertise from Ten Toes Media, Anomaly strengthens its approach with insights from its dedicated sports marketing arm.

Charlie Carpenter, CEO at Creativebrief, emphasised the significance of the project.

“This brief is the literal definition of a once in a lifetime opportunity. When you also combine the excitement of the task at hand with the exemplary approach that the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited took towards running an equitable pitch that didn’t request creative work from agencies, it gets even better,” Carpenter stated in his press release.

WPLL's Vision for the Future

WPLL is driven by a bold vision to revolutionise women’s football by not only creating the world’s most unique, competitive, and entertaining league but also ensuring it caters to both current and future players and fans.

Ruth Hooper, Chief Marketing Officer at WPLL, acknowledged the challenge.

“It was not an easy brief; we have big ambitions to sit alongside the biggest sporting brands in the world creating a distinctive brand that will shape the next chapter of the sport." Hooper stated in her press release.

"Anomaly fully grasped the brief and the needs we have for a business at our stage in the growth journey. We can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

Building A Long-Term Brand Strategy

Anomaly will begin crafting a long-term brand strategy that will guide communications across all platforms, followed by the development of a new brand architecture and visual identity.

Camilla Harrisson, CEO at Anomaly, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“The opportunity to define the future of women’s football is uniquely exciting and the brief of dreams."

"The WPLL team have an inspiring vision and incredible ambition and we will be harnessing every skill set within the Anomaly model as we partner them on this awesome and important journey to create real change and impact,” Harrisson stated in her press release.

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Aspiring female coaches are encouraged to enrol in a free two-night training program. Football West welcomes sign-ups for an exclusive women’s foundation football coaching course.

The program will be hosted at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Monday, March 31, and Monday, April 7, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM, participants must be 14 years or older to apply.

The Foundation of Football course is designed for those beginning their coaching journey, including parents and volunteer coaches who often support young players in grassroots football.

The course provides participants with key skills to foster a safe and supportive learning environment for players.

The course aims to equip coaches with the tools to create a safe and fun environment for young players. It provides expert guidance on running engaging training sessions and includes ready-made training plans for a full season, saving coaches the effort of designing them from scratch.

The hands-on portion of the course covers key aspects of the game, including playing formats and core skills like dribbling, passing, receiving, and finishing. However, the main focus is on coaching techniques that create a supportive and effective learning environment.

Football West Manager - Female Football & Advocacy Tash Rigby, highlighted the importance of women to be involved in coaching and increasing the presence for females in Western Australia.

“It is so important that we provide opportunities to women to pursue their journey in coaching so that they can continue to develop, to contribute positively to the game, act as role models and increase the visibility of female coaches in Western Australia," she said via press release.

Registration and Subsidy Details:

To receive the subsidy, participants must enter the following code at checkout: FOF-FW100$

If you do not yet have an active profile on the FA Learning Centre platform, follow these two steps before registering for the course:

1. Click the link below, search for ‘Learner,’ select your state, and complete the registration process here.
2. After completing Step 1, wait 48 hours before accessing the Football Australia Learning Centre via the link here. Ensure you log in as a 'Football Australia Learner.'

If you encounter any difficulties, please reach out to the FA Learning Centre by clicking here.

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Nike and Football Australia have collaborated with acclaimed Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie to create the first-ever Australian National Football Team Collection designed by a First Nations artist.

Set to launch on 21 February 2025, the partnership centres on the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos' shared brand essence of 'Forever Forging Forward', embodying cultural representation and continuous progress through a bold new kit design that celebrates First Nations storytelling.

Rennie, who recently showcased his work in a major retrospective at the National Gallery of Victoria, has incorporated elements from his 2024 painting featured in the REKOSPECTIVE exhibition.

The jersey's centrepiece draws inspiration from traditional First Nations message sticks, historically used for inter-community communication.

Reko Rennie explains his profound understanding of football's community-building potential and its important connection with his first nations design.

"I have a deep connection to the culture of football. Growing up in the western suburbs of Melbourne, I saw first-hand how the game united the local community I was a part of, and what it means to wear the national jersey. To feel part of something bigger," explained Rennie via Football Australia press release.

"I am proud to have designed this kit, it is a bold statement of cultural visibility, celebrating the diverse communities changing the game for the future - a message of unity from the oldest continuous civilisation on earth to everyone, united through football."

Nike Pacific Vice President and General Manager, Ashley Read emphasised the brand's commitment to innovation.

"Since the brand's inception into the beautiful game, Nike Football has been a catalyst for change. Nike are proud to partner with Reko Rennie and Football Australia for this Collection and look forward to seeing Australian's come together to support their national teams in the new green and gold,” commented Read via official Football Australia press release.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson also highlighted the sport's inclusive nature.

"Football is Australia's most diverse team sport, and its multiculturalism is its superpower. The new national team kits reflect our commitment to innovation and inspiring the next generation of footballers. 'Forever Forging Forward' is more than a brand identity – it's our guiding philosophy as we shape the future of Australian football," Johnson commented via official Football Australia press release.

The collection will debut with the CommBank Matildas during February's SheBelieves Cup and the Subway Socceroos during their Round 3 AFC Asian Qualifiers in March.

All Football Australia National Teams, including senior, youth, Paras and Futsal teams, will wear the new designs.

The jerseys will be available from 8.00am AEDT, 21 February, through Nike's website and Football Australia's online shop, as well as retail partners rebel, Ultra Football and SPT Football.

This landmark collaboration represents a significant step forward in celebrating Australia's First Nations culture on the global sporting stage, allowing first nations artists to take control of their story and narrative while reinforcing football's unique ability to unite diverse communities across the nation.

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UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever's deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever's Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann's.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA's excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025," he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever's involvement in the upcoming Women's EURO 2025.

"We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods," he said in a UEFA press release.

"Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games."

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025," he said via press release.

"It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay's, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

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On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.

Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.

After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.

“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”

Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.

By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport's sustainable growth.

To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.

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In a landmark initiative for women's football, FIFA has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at reaching 60 million female players worldwide by 2027.

The comprehensive plan, supported by 13 distinct development programmes, is available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, marking a significant step forward in the sport's global evolution.

FIFA also took the announcement to highlight the achievements for women’s football in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC).

The recently enhanced FIFA Women's Development Programme underscores the organisation's strengthened commitment to expanding the women's game.

The upcoming 2025 calendar promises several groundbreaking developments for women's football.

The Philippines will host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup, while Morocco makes history as the first African nation to stage the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The latter tournament sees significant expansion, growing from 16 to 24 teams and shifting to an annual format.

International competition reaches new heights with continental championships scheduled across multiple confederations.

The pathway to the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027 commences with African qualification matches, while major regional tournaments including the UEFA Women's EURO and OFC Women's Nations Cup will crown new champions.

In a significant advancement for club football, all six confederations will host their respective continental club championships for the first time.

This renewed focus comes amid unprecedented growth in participation rates, particularly evident in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup co-host nations.

New Zealand has reported a remarkable 27 per cent surge in female participation since 2022, with particularly strong growth among Māori and Pasifika communities, showing a 14 per cent increase.

A strategic partnership between New Zealand Football and Māori Football Aotearoa further strengthens grassroots development.

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell voiced the federations successful results.

"The expansion of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand has been extraordinary, with the Women's World Cup serving as a genuine catalyst for growth," he explained via official FIFA press release.

Across the Tasman, Football Australia's Growing Football Fund Community Grants programme continues to foster development at the grassroots level.

The latest round of funding benefits 118 recipients, complementing the 121 projects supported in March 2024.

This initiative particularly emphasises regional development, with nearly half the grants allocated to areas outside major metropolitan centres.

The grants provide essential support for women's football development, encompassing coach education, introductory programmes, and vital equipment procurement, further cementing the sport's foundation at the community level.

Also within the AFC, footballing powerhouse Japan has successfully hosted the continent's first female-exclusive Pro Licence coaching course.

A collaborative effort between FIFA, AFC, and the Japan Football Association (JFA), represents a significant milestone in professional football development.

The intensive seven-day course attracted participants from fourteen nations, featuring presents such as AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh and Japan men's national team coach Hajime Moriyasu.

Participants gained valuable practical experience through observations of pre-season training sessions at both J.League and Nadeshiko League clubs.

JFA Technical Director Masanaga Kageyama emphasised the programme's strategic importance and inclusivity.

"This course is a joint AFC/JFA initiative to increase the number of top-level, professionally licensed female coaches in Asia. It aims to provide existing talents with additional advice to help them achieve greater success in their current coaching positions and secure future success," Kageyama explained via official FIFA press release.

This initiative aligns with JFA's renowned long-term development philosophy and a significant advancement in creating pathways for women in professional football coaching.

This newly improved strategy at the global scale will hopefully allow for more women in both professional and amateur spaces to get the opportunities they deserve in football.

It also highlight’s that AFC & OFC nations, including Australia, will have a strong place within the growth of women’s football.

Read more on the FIFA Women's Development Program here.

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In September 2024, former Matilda’s and journeyman coach, Tom Sermanni, was quietly going about his business coaching in the women’s program at Western Sydney Wanderers.

The last thing he expected was to receive an offer from the F.A. to become the interim manager for the Matildas.

However, Sermanni reflected on his previous stints with the Matildas from 1994-97 and 2005-12 with a great sense of pride and didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.

After five months in the job, Sermanni and assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny have methodically restored confidence in the squad after the disappointment of not qualifying for the quarter finals at the Paris Olympics.

It was certainly a far cry from Sermanni’s previous stints in 1994-97 when players weren’t paid and had to cover their own expenses and 2005-12 when contracts were introduced for the players.

Notably, Sermanni is aware of the strong brand the Matildas carry in Australian sport and every time they venture onto the pitch, there is a weight of expectation for them to perform.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Tom Sermanni discusses his progress with the Matildas since September 2024 and the general state of the women’s game in Australia.

ROGER SLEEMAN

What was your mindset when you were offered the job after your last stint with the Matildas in 2005-12?

TOM SERMANNI

Surprise was my first reaction as it came completely out of the blue

I’d actually reached the stage where I wasn’t searching for a career but winding down.

However, it was a compliment to be still considered for coaching at this level.

R.S.

How long did it take you to accept the offer?

T.S.

Only a few minutes because it was a no brainer after I contemplated what was involved.

[caption id="attachment_28219" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo: Kyoko Kurihara - Football Australia[/caption]

R.S.

Based on the Matilda’s performance at the Paris Olympics, what areas were you going to concentrate on?

T.S.

I was actually at the U.S.A. and Zambia games which was useful and I also knew a number of players in the squad.

Initially, I wanted to maintain stability because when a tournament doesn’t yield results, there are inquisitions and uncertainty.

Therefore, the lack of confidence had to be restored.

R.S.

What has been your main focus since you commenced the position?

T.S.

When we first assembled for the first match in Switzerland, I outlined the expectations for the team and myself.

I wanted to get back to the way Australian teams play on the front foot and to reassure the players there was a lot of ability in the squad , despite the disappointment of the Olympic’s result.

We needed to establish goals for the players to achieve and winning was critical.

Rebuilding belief, confidence and spirit was essential to achieving this outcome.

R.S.

What were your conclusions after the Switzerland and German clashes in October?

T.S.

There were signs of missing confidence and cohesion in the Swiss clash but against Germany it was a great 2-1 victory and defied our 15th ranking in the world standings.

R.S.

Against Brazil, how did you rate the team’s performance?

T.S.

Both games were probably the most brutally physical I’d ever witnessed in the women’s game.

Also ,the Brazilians were very direct and unfortunately in the first game in Brisbane, the referee didn’t control the game well enough.

In the second game on the Gold Coast this was rectified somewhat .

Critically, the games were a great benchmark to assess our status with the top five teams in the world.

R.S.

Are we technically adept to match the top teams?

T.S.

If you look at Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler and Kyra- Cooney Cross, we have players who rate technically with the best.

Also, we have players spread across the best Leagues in the world.

Nevertheless, at the development level we need to advance players at a technical level, rather than implementing systems which restrict individual development.

[caption id="attachment_28220" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo: Kyoko Kurihara - Football Australia[/caption]

R.S.

Are the senior players performing to their best?

T.S.

I believe in the matches so far they have and are still our most consistent performers.

Don’t forget, despite the Paris Olympics failure, we did qualify for the semi finals of the previous Olympics and the 2023 World Cup.

R.S.

Is it time to blood young players in the squad, and what is your general opinion of the talent scouting process employed to unearth new players?

T.S.

If I’d come in as a new coach for the next campaign, rather than an interim coach, things may have been different.

I emphasise again my role is to instigate stability in an effective way and my successor in a permanent role will decide where the squad will go forward from there.

For me , the role is to plan for the present and the future so it’s a balancing act.

In the modern game it’s difficult because you don’t get enough time with the players who are mainly based overseas.

This is in contrast with my last stint with the Matildas when most of the players were home based so we had complete access to them for local camps .

Importantly, this allowed us to develop players within the team structure.

It’s getting harder to bring in new players because of the time limits you have to work with them.

Obviously, you’re continuing to strengthen your squad by bringing new players in but moving forward the new coach has to reassess the current squad and also be mindful of other players to be given an opportunity to see if they are better than the current players.

Naturally, there will be a turnover of the squad due to ageing of senior players so we have to provide a better way of bringing younger players through.

With the huge increase in playing numbers in women’s football , there should be a lot of new talent coming through the system to be considered for Matilda selection.

Unfortunately ,there hasn’t been an organised plan since the Institutes fell by the wayside and resources aren’t being committed to a cohesive system.

R.S.

How important is Mary Fowler to the squad?

T.S

She is critical because she has that X-factor and those qualities to become a superstar.

Some of the senior players are now at their peak in their late twenties and Mary in her early twenties has the world at her feet to become a world class player.

Along with Ellie Carpenter whose workrate and football awareness are phenomenal, it should be our aim to continue unearthing such talent in the W- League.

R.S.

What is your opinion of the A-League Women?

T.S.

Unfortunately, it’s not fully professional and it needs more resources to make it the best league it can be because at the moment it’s a development league for domestic players.

However, we need as many young players to be competing in the League and over time it would be ideal for overseas players to come back to the League to contribute to its progress.

However, the League is certainly a great place for supplying national youth team players.

[caption id="attachment_28221" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photo: Kyoko Kurihara - Football Australia[/caption]

R.S.

Can you tell us more about the She Believes Cup, the Matildas are competing in the U.S. from February 19-27 against U.S.A., Japan and Colombia?

T.S.

It's a proper, competitive tournament, not a series of friendlies so there is a great incentive to win.

We play the first game and then travel to two other cities to play so there’s limited time for preparation.

Clearly, it’s an important tournament to play serious opposition with different styles on show and for players to maintain their place or for new players to emerge.

R.S.

After your interim role ends, would you like to be still involved with the Matildas in some way?

T.S.

If there was a role for me which was suitable I certainly would take it because I’m really enjoying the current position.

The post Tom Sermanni- Leading the Matildas in the Right Direction appeared first on Soccerscene.

The National Women's Soccer League has announced Denver, Colorado as the competition's 16th franchise. The Denver team will first play in the 2026 season, joining Boston as the latest city to enter the competition in this round of expansion and ultimately boosting the NWSL from 14 to 16 clubs.

Currently, the Denver franchise is organising plans for a brand-new stadium and performance facility centre for female athletes in the city. Additionally, the Denver team name, colours and logo are set to be revealed soon.

Commissioner of the NWSL, Jessica Berman, expressed the importance of the upcoming Denver team.

“As the NWSL continues its rapid growth, we knew it was critical to launch our 16th team in a city with a passionate sports culture and vibrant fan base, and Denver is the perfect match,” she said via press release.

“The club’s plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facility demonstrate a commitment to providing world-class environments for our players and fans alike. With this ownership group’s vision and dedication, we are confident that Denver NWSL will set new standards for excellence on and off the pitch, inspiring the next generation of players and supporters across the Rocky Mountain region.”

Denver Mayor, Mike Johnston, expressed what the new team would mean for the city.

“Despite producing some of the world’s greatest players and being home to the best sports fans in the country, Denver has been deprived of its own professional women’s team," he said in a press release.

"That changes today. We’re proud to announce that professional women’s soccer is coming to Denver and that generations of Denverites will soon be able to cheer on the nation’s top talent in their own backyard.

Having worked side-by-side with investors to make this happen, I know the group behind this bid is as committed to putting together a world-class experience as they are to winning, and I look forward to seeing you on opening weekend 2026. Game on.”

The Denver team will be headed and backed by a range of local and national investors, including FirstTracks Sports Ventures and Project Level, a subsidiary of Ariel Investments.

The post Introducing Denver: The latest addition to the NWSL appeared first on Soccerscene.

In the debut episode of Off the Pitch, Soccerscene’s new podcast, David Cvetkovski joins the show to discuss the success of Preston Lions FC’s Preston in Business initiative.

Over the years, the club has built a powerhouse corporate portfolio, fostering strong relationships with sponsors through exclusive events and perks that keep them engaged and invested.

Cvetkovski breaks down the impressive figures behind Preston’s thriving business community and how its financial stability has played a crucial role in the club’s resurgence toward Victoria’s top flight.

"For us, I dare say our Preston in Business community at the moment is probably doing in excess of $12-15m of business with each other," Cvetkovski said on the podcast.

"Us connecting with our sponsors through this community whether it be the concreters to the builders to the developers to the painters to pest control and now adding the corporates in the mix."

Preston Lions have recently expanded their corporate network by securing partnerships with major household brands, including McDonald's, Harvey Norman, Chemist Warehouse, and Coles.

These deals reflect strong local franchise support, helping to elevate PLFC’s presence while uniting the community and strengthening the club’s connection with its supporters.

Cvetkovski spoke on how the club have managed to capitalise on this opportunity that other clubs haven't mastered yet.

"The biggest shift we've made is the corporate relationships we've started to create, with major household brands, and I think we've got 10 or 11 this year," he said.

"These are brands that everyone knows, and we've created long term relationships with them. It's not always about the money, it could be product or service, that can be monetised."

The club boast the largest sponsorship portfolio in the NPL and Cvetkovski made sure to mention the importance of maintaining these relationships to ensure loyalty and trust amongst all parties.

"It's all about treating these sponsors really well to maintain the relationship. Ultimately, they all want to have a good night and so we gave them their own car park which is great," he said on the podcast.

"They're always networking and doing business with each other and they do it at the game on matchday which is a massive winner for the club.

"All our sponsors this year get a merchandise voucher and feature on the polo which is Formula 1-esque. Everyone in the club has to wear it proudly because this is what you're representing, and we don't exist without our sponsors."

The success of Preston in Business is the result of years of dedication, strategic growth, and long-term partnerships.

The club has worked tirelessly to build a strong foundation, ensuring stability and sustainable growth both on and off the pitch.

"As I said to the model, we don't have a big backer, whale or individual that just throws money into Preston, we're relying on a considerable mass of great people to chip in 1% and it makes it 140% because we have 140+ sponsors," Cvetkovski said.

Preston Lions FC has set the benchmark for club-driven business initiatives, proving that a strong corporate network can be just as vital as on-field success.

Through strategic partnerships, long-term sponsor relationships, and a thriving business community, the club has built a model of sustainability that many others aspire to replicate.

Now the club are set to kick off their important NPL season, starting this Friday 7th of February at B.T Connor Reserve vs Hume City at 8:30pm KO.

The post Off the Pitch podcast: David Cvetkovski on Preston Lions’ business boom appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Queensland has unveiled an innovative development program aimed at nurturing the next generation of female football talent across the Sunshine State.

The FQ Academy Emerging Female Program, launching this February, will provide specialised coaching for girls aged 9-13 under the expert guidance of Football Queensland Academy and Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) technical staff.

The eight-week initiative, operating alongside existing club programs, represents a significant boost to Queensland's female football pathway.

Players will receive professional coaching focused on fundamental skills development, with sessions designed to complement their regular club training.

FQ Academy QAS Isaka Cernak expressed their support of the new program.

"The launch of this program is an important step in our commitment to developing the women's game in Queensland, as we aim to support our clubs, coaches, and players who are looking for, or would benefit from additional technical skill development," Isaka Cernak said via press release.

"The program is designed to complement existing club training, helping players enhance their technical skills and football knowledge during the critical skill acquisition phase of their development, benefiting both the individual player and their club environment."

The program is also creating opportunities for aspiring female coaches.

FQ General Manager – Football & State Technical Director Gabor Ganczer highlighted this crucial aspect.

"Supporting the growing number of female coaches is critical to the long-term success of the women's game, and through this program, we are creating more opportunities for current and aspiring female coaches to develop their skills and advance their technical knowledge," Ganczer commented via FQ official press release.

The initiative aligns with FQ's ambitious 2024-2026 Women and Girls Strategy, which targets 50/50 gender parity by 2027.

It's particularly timely as Queensland looks towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with organisers hoping to unearth and develop future CommBank Matildas talent.

Term 1 Key Information:

• Tuesday, 11 February – Tuesday, 1 April 2025

• Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm

• 8 sessions per term (1 per week for 8 weeks)

• Nudgee Recreation Reserve, 290 Elliott Rd, Nudgee

• Cost: $100

• Age groups: U9-U13 girls

Football Queensland has indicated plans to expand the program, with further announcements expected in the coming months.

The impressive growth of women’s football in Queensland has been consistently supported through the state's footballing federation. It is hopeful this program can deliver more opportunities for young girls to advance their development and football ambitions.

Interested participants must register by Friday, 7 February 2025, register for term 1 through the link here.

The post Queensland Football launches academy for young female stars appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Australia has presented the 2024 National Participation Report, revealing record growth for the sport across the country.

The report found that football is in a healthy state in the country, once again being Australia's most popular sport. With an 11 percent increase in participation from 2023 to 2024, total participation now sits at over 1.9 million active participants.

However, total participation was not the only success uncovered via the report, as a number of key areas saw substantial increases in participation.

Key Findings from the 2024 National Participation Report: 

• Total Participation: Climbed 11% to 1,911,539 participants.
• Women and Girls' Participation: Grew by 16% to 221,436 participants.
• Registered Coaches: Rose by 19%.
• Registered Volunteers: Increased by 26%.
• Outdoor football participation: Increased by 10% to 640,170 participants.
• Social Football Engagement: Grew by 13% to 174,846 participants.
• Schools and Community Football Programs Participation: Rose by 13%.
• Football Australia Sporting Schools Program Participation: Increased by 21% to 158,700 participants.

Football Australia has lauded the hard work of each Member Federation and the role out of key grassroots strategies such as the Club Changer: Club Development Program in attaining these positive outcomes.

Launched in February 2023, and aided by the Australian Sports Commission, the Club Changer initiative has assisted over 1,000 grassroots clubs across Australia. Through providing unique support for each club, the program aimed to develop club operations, increase volunteer numbers and retention, as well as improve women and girls' participation.

For its efforts, the Club Changer Program won the AFC President's Recognition Grassroots Award for the second year in a row.

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, outlined how important initiatives such as Club Changer are for community football.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ inspired a generation, and we are determined to harness that momentum to unite and grow football across the country. Through programs like Club Changer, we are empowering community clubs to deliver quality football experiences while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability remain at the heart of our mission," he said via press release.

"Our success is a shared achievement with our Member Federations, local associations, grassroots clubs and community volunteers. Programs like the Growing Football Fund supported by CommBank, have provided vital resources to over 200 community clubs, fostering opportunities for women and girls in football and enabling the next generation of coaches, referees and players to thrive."

One of the core focuses of Football Australia's grassroots development plans has been on diversity and inclusion. In collaboration with the National Volunteer Focus Group and 28 clubs, Football Australia has developed a series of action plans that strive to increase women and girls' participation by aiming for 40% women, 40% men and 20% flexible roles' structure.

Through 2025, Football Australia will continue to support grassroots and community football via valuable programs such as Club Changer and the Growing Football Fund to build off of the immense success of 2024's participation records.

The post Football Australia reveals record participation in 2024 appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football NSW has unveiled its latest cohort of First Nations scholarship recipients, marking a significant step forward in its commitment to increasing Indigenous participation across all levels of the sport.

The comprehensive scholarship program, which includes both metropolitan and regional recipients, demonstrates the organisation's ongoing efforts to boost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation throughout the football community.

Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group Co-Chair Bianca Dufty highlighted the program's significance.

"The Football NSW scholarships are an important part of the work Football NSW is undertaking to elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in football," she said via press release.

"It's exciting to see so many talented Aboriginal footballers and coaches take the next steps in their footballing journey, and it's great that we are able to support the successful scholarship recipients and be part of that journey.

"I can't wait to see the next Aboriginal footballer, referee, and coach inspiring our next generation to play, referee and coach, and fall in love with the world game."

The selection process, conducted in partnership with the Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group, maintained strict anonymity during assessment to ensure fair consideration of all candidates.

The program has awarded scholarships across playing and coaching categories, with referee scholarships set to be confirmed.

The initiative specifically targets the reduction of barriers for Indigenous participants in elite pathways whilst expanding development opportunities.

It places particular emphasis on identifying emerging talent beyond traditional channels, especially focusing on individuals who may not have previously had access to elite-level opportunities.

The 2025 playing scholarships have been awarded to five metropolitan recipients: Jarrah Longbottom, Zachary John Healey, Coen Hardy, Hollie Willats, and Summer Smith.

The regional recipients are Maddison Houghton, Khloe Houghton, Alexis Woolsey, Carter Lane, and Jaxxon Woolsey. Joshua Jamieson and Jessica Garrett have been named as the recipients of the coaching scholarships for 2025.

This scholarship is a great initiative for the inclusivity of the game and a perfect way to find emerging players and inspiring coaches from the NSW Indigenous Community.

Hopefully this scholarship program and its new cohort can help promote the important place football has in supporting and enriching the NSW community.

The post Football NSW confirmed First Nations Scholarships appeared first on Soccerscene.

John Paraskevas is the founder of Faraday West – a leading specialised lender for the self-employed.

As Australia faces uncertainly around interest rates, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis presenting its own challenges, approaching a bank for financial help can be a daunting experience.

Those with irregular income have often found themselves knocked back by a bank in times of need, where it appears the self-employed cannot be trusted.

However, Paraskevas’ business Faraday West has changed the game - supporting the self-employed and backing them in for 25 years.

Speaking with Soccerscene in a wide-ranging chat, Paraskevas discusses how his business began, why it’s a success, his approach to changing the lives of people on a daily basis and his affinity with the round ball game.

First of all, John, could you tell us a little bit more about the origins of Faraday West?

John Paraskevas: I finished up with university in the late 80’s, I did a business course in accountancy, so I was always going to be business focused.

I chose lending, it just resonated well with me. Meeting people, solving their problems and then watching their reactions as they start off nervous trying to borrow money, but once you approve the loan, the elation on their faces, knowing now they can focus on achieving their goals; it’s fantastic.

Lending was always a big part of me and I just found it really natural - with this business it is always about relationships.

That's what I found over the last 25 years since starting Faraday West in 1999, it's about relationships and listening to people. A lot of people try and sell something, but for me it was always about the relationship and building rapport with a person.

I've got clients that I dealt with 25 years ago that I'm still dealing with now, it's extraordinary.

As an organisation we address the question of who looks after the self-employed people. They’ve struggled when they went to the bank and I remember personally my father facing these challenges.

He is still self-employed and it was always hard borrowing money from the bank.

For me, that was where my passion kicked in. My thinking was it'd be great to create lending products to support those who are self-employed, who the bank doesn't really care about or they're just too hard, whatever the case is.

That was the emergence of the self-employed space and from there came what we call low-doc programs and loans for the self-employed. 25 years later, these low-doc programs now are stronger than ever.

I realised very early that a lot of friends who were self-employed all struggled when it came to borrowing as well. With my dad being a builder, buying a block of land and building a couple of units should be simple, but unfortunately it was always more complicated with the bank.

[caption id="attachment_28119" align="alignnone" width="713"] Faraday West Founder John Paraskevas – Image Credit: One Nil Media[/caption]

What is it like working alongside clients day-to-day?

John Paraskevas: We still have clients from decades ago, their kids now call us who are self-employed - so it's incredible again to see the longevity.

It’s been a fantastic journey with a diverse range of clients.

From lawyers, to tradies, to engineers, to anyone in that self-employed space, we can support any industry. When people hear the term self-employed, they automatically assume one person; but self-employed could be the individual, a small team of 1-3 people or even 10-30 people. They're all still self-employed, so it’s very much a medium enterprise.

There’s just been so many memorable moments, everyone’s story is a success.

It's not about the size of the loan, it's about the journey and helping that individual or group of people. There's been many situations where you've got someone starting out in business, they've been working for a year, wanting to buy their first home and multiple banks have been saying no to them for a year.

Eventually, they come see us, you meet them and then if we tell them within an hour that it's a done deal, they just can't believe it. I love seeing that smile on their face, being surprised by the outcome.

That is the buzz for me where we approve loans, assist people and work through their financial duties.

Talk to me a little bit about your other love John, Soccer, what’s your background in the game?

John Paraskevas: I played soccer in my younger years for Thornbury United and then moved to Northcote City at a reserve state league level. We're talking in the mid-1980’s, I loved playing soccer. I had a break for a few years and then in my late 30’s started playing again till about 50, so the sport has always been in the family’s blood and we've loved it.

I’ve got two daughters at NPL level, one is playing seniors at Boroondara Eagles and doing quite well with her development, while the other one is 17 playing at Bulleen and absolutely loves it - been at that club for two years now.

What is your view on the local game’s main strength?

John Paraskevas: The participation levels at a junior level are fantastic.

If you look at the women’s side of the game, I love to see the growth in that area and how it’s taken off over time.

For the girls and also the boys, participation in the game promotes a healthy lifestyle and these individuals can also make changes in the way they eat, train, socialise, it improves their mental wellbeing – there are so many benefits that are a result of engaging in the game of soccer.

What are the main reasons you’ve decided to partner with Soccerscene? What are the similarities you see across both businesses?

John Paraskevas: We are in very similar paths. Firstly, there’s a lot of risk in trying to start up a business. People always see the end product, but they don’t see the sleepless nights, the money you pour into something, the time and effort – a lot of the rewards, if they do come at all, they come later (sometimes 5-10 years down the track).

Looking at Soccerscene, it reminds me of the early days of Faraday West – you were told by others you couldn’t do something, this is not going to work, but ultimately it comes down to the passion you have in what you do.

With that passion, the product or business continues to develop and get bigger and bigger every year. You’re out there every day speaking with people and getting the message out there, but the most important thing is you have to love what you do and across both businesses you can see we share common values.

[caption id="attachment_28124" align="alignnone" width="713"] Faraday West Founder John Paraskevas - Image Credit: One Nil Media[/caption]

On those values John, why should someone use Faraday West?

John Paraskevas: What generally happens is most borrowers or someone seeking a loan would simply go to the bank, generally the bank where you've got your savings account and ask for a loan - that's the normal natural process.

You see these banks advertising here and there so instinctively you're going to go there, which is 80% of people because of PAYG (they work for someone). However, the self-employed unfortunately don't get that fair go because their situation is a bit more complex - their income could vary from week, to month, to year.

All those variables make it very difficult for the bank to be able to come back and say we can help you. They’ll say you're great, but come back in three months.

From one bank to another, it becomes the same story; ‘I'm going to struggle to borrow money from the bank to buy my dream home’. Suddenly, they hear about Faraday West, loans for the self-employed and it’s almost too good to be true.

The fact that we can assess the position purely just by talking within an hour or two and give them that positive news that we can help, is just gold.

A lot of people just don't believe it, because they've never experienced it before. Their experience has always been this long journey through the bank.

The fact that we can give them an answer straight away is what's important. Not only that, people have this perception that low-doc loans or loans for the self-employed are expensive, but they're not. They're very similar to home loan bank rates.

Once people understand that it's not too difficult to qualify for a loan, they warm up to it.  Once they do the transaction and it settles, you've got them as clients for life - because they believe you've delivered something for them, that they've been trying to do for years.

What could a self-employed person expect in a consultation with Faraday West?

John Paraskevas: I always say to people tell me your story and we will listen.

Every self-employed person can be supported. It could be that person isn't quite ready yet to save for a deposit. Generally, as long as you're self-employed, you've got an ABN number and you've been operating for more than 12 months, there are solutions to help you in that journey.

It’s also an education process, learning throughout the journey.

We have a motto here: keep it simple. How do you do things in the easiest, quickest way? That's what people want.

Once they discover it, it's like it's a pandora's box. It really opens up a lot of opportunities to them, such as buying another property for example - because at the end of the day they should be focusing on their business and their future.

Contact Faraday West today for a free consultation

The post Business Insight: Founder of Faraday West John Paraskevas on his passion for supporting the self-employed and his love of soccer appeared first on Soccerscene.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reinforced its strong commitment to advancing women’s roles in football with the launch of the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP), an innovative online initiative highlighting the various contributions women make to the football industry, both on and off the field.

This six-month programme will provide participants with essential knowledge and skills to better understand the global football ecosystem, promote gender equity and inclusion, and identify and tackle industry barriers using ethical, strategic, and diplomatic approaches.

The programme will examine the significant contributions women have made in football’s history across areas like business strategy, advocacy, brand transformation, executive leadership, and other key aspects of the modern game. It will highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion, showcasing their exceptional role in advancing both Asian and global football.

AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John talks extensively about the programme.

“The AEWFP is truly a groundbreaking programme that aligns with the AFC’s continuous championing and promotion of gender equity, inclusivity and integrity,” he said via press release.

“From a historical viewpoint to contemporary leadership, women have long played, and are playing, a powerful role in shaping the football industry. This programme not only honours their immense contributions but also empowers the next generation to drive positive, inclusive change and lead the football business into a future of excellence.

“The AFC places the advancement of our MAs, RAs and the Asian football community as key to realising our Vision of becoming the world’s leading Confederation. The AEWFP is in line with our objective, and we strive to ensure it provides our leaders with the knowledge to continue making impactful decisions that keep to the industry’s best practices, for the betterment of their respective organisations and global football as a whole.”

The AEWFP is the newest initiative from the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE), established in 2021 to enhance the skills of Asian football leaders. It adds to a prestigious line-up of programmes, including the AFC Football Management Certificate, AFC Football Management Diploma, AFC Certificate in Football Leadership, AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management, AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding, and AFC Certificate in Strategy and Planning.

The AEWFP, designed for leaders of the AFC Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs), and other football stakeholders, consists of seven modules. These modules address topics such as the strategic influence of women in football business, overcoming barriers, driving organisational innovation, and empowering women in executive leadership roles.

These tailored modules are delivered online, combining theoretical insights, practical activities, and real-world case studies. Participants will graduate with the skills to make decisions that enhance inclusivity, diversity, and integrity, while strengthening women’s impact on the global growth of football in an ever-evolving and competitive environment.

The post Landmark AFC Programme champions gender equity in football appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Victoria has taken a major leap forward in youth development with the confirmation of its new academy program, set to kick off in the 2025 season.

The comprehensive initiative will cater to both male and female players from Under 14s through to Under 17s, while also incorporating existing women's Under 20 and NPLW squads.

A talented group of young players has already joined the program following successful trials that commenced in October.

The academy, based at The Home of The Matildas, will combine expert coaching with state-of-the-art facilities to develop both technical skills and high-performance mindsets in its young prospects.

FV's Head of Youth Development Steve Mautone praised the initiative as a "fantastic development" for Victorian football.

"The academy will become the players' club, providing them with the opportunity to compete in the junior boys and girls NPL season in 2025. This provides a clear pathway for talented young players to progress. We are incredibly excited about the potential of the 2025 program," Mautone said via official press release.

The academy has already hit the ground running, with promising youngsters selected through trials conducted since October. These players will form the inaugural squads competing in next year's NPL competitions.

Beyond match play, the program will emphasise technical development and high-performance habits, with participants receiving specialist coaching at the purpose-built Matildas facility.

The academy forms a crucial piece in Football Victoria's Elite Pathways program, working alongside established talent identification initiatives like TIDC and SAP.

This structured approach aims to smooth the traditionally bumpy road from grassroots to elite football. For ambitious young players, the academy offers multiple pathways to professional football.

This academy will hopefully give graduates the necessary pathways towards progressing through A-League and NPL ranks, national careers and even securing overseas contracts.

Football Victoria will launch dedicated social media channels to showcase the academy's talent and keep supporters updated on player development and events throughout the season.

This academy is the starting for a more streamlined approach to development in one of Australia’s most dedicated footballing states.

To young footballers and their supporting communities, this academy could relieve the pressure from Grassroots and NPL clubs in supporting the growth of the state’s youth.

The academy could also allow for Victoria to further help solidify a national style of play, though one must also be careful not to disrupt the rich tapestry of historical footballing culture.

Overall, this news be watched closely by all industry makers involved, hopeful it can produce future generations of talented players.

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Football Australia has celebrated the latest round of the Growing Football Fund Community Grants, with 118 clubs and associations awarded up to $5000 to support women's football programs. 

In conjunction with the Commonwealth Bank, the latest grants from Football Australia built upon the first round of the program from March 2024 that saw 121 clubs and associations rewarded with grants.

The grants aim to strengthen women's football through number of initiatives:

• Assisting the development of female coaches by subsiding coach training programs
• Assisting the hosting of 'come and try' days and participation programs
• Assisting health and training workshops for women and girls
• Assisting the allocation of professional female fitting uniforms

Through the program, Football Australia also illustrated its desire to bolster rural women's sport by providing 38% of the grants to organisations from regional areas.

Football Australia General Manager of Women’s Football, Carlee Millikin, explained the impact the grants would have on community women's football.

“We are thrilled to see the clubs and associations that have been awarded the grants demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term investment in women and girls’ football within their communities that goes beyond the financial,” she said in a press release.

“It means the Growing Football Fund can play its role to help supercharge their ambitions that result in positive outcomes for female participants. The wide breadth of projects is exciting, as it shows a deepening understanding of what is required to develop inclusive and safe environments.

“In partnership with CommBank, we have already seen great results from the round one clubs delivery of initiatives and look forward to witnessing how the latest cohort creates a lasting impact through their programs."

CommBank’s General Manager of Brand, Sponsorship and Content, Di Everett, expressed their pride to sponsor the grants.

“We are so proud of what this fund has achieved so far, and congratulate the recipients of the Round Two grants," she said via press release.

"We are passionate about making community sport more accessible for all. These grants have enabled clubs across the country to assist coaches through training opportunities and support local families through an expansion of programs to drive participation for young women.”

The clubs awarded with grants from Round Two of the program are listed below via member federation:

Capital Football 

• BellaMonaro Women's Football Club
• Belsouth Football Club
• Canberra Juventus Football Club
• Canberra White Eagles Football Club
• Tigers FC
• Tuggeranong United Football Club

Football NSW

• AC United Football Club
• All Saints West Oatley Soccer Club
• Ashfield Pirates FC
• Austral Soccer Club
• Balgownie Junior Football Club
• Box Hill Rangers AFC
• Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club
• Colo Soccer Football Club
• Enfield Rovers Football Club
• Fairfield Bulls Football Club Inc.
• Figtree Football Club
• Football Canterbury Association
• Forest Rangers Football Club
• Future Leaders Australia Football Club Incorporated
• Gordon Football Club
• Gosford City Football Club
• Leichhardt Saints Football Club
• Leppington Lions Soccer Club
• Lindfield Football Club
• Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club Inc
• Narooma Football Club
• Narromine Soccer Club
• North Epping Rangers Sports Club
• North Turramurra
• North West Sydney Football Association
• Pennant Hills Football Club
• Pitt Town Football Club
• Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club
• Russell Lea Women's Soccer Club
• Sydney Uni Soccer Football Club
• Wagga United Football Club
• Warradale FC
• West Griffith Soccer Club

Northern NSW Football 

• Charlestown Azzurri FC
• Coffs City United Football Club
• Cooks Hill United Football Club
• Corindi Red Rock Sports Association (Football Club)
• Great Lakes United Football Club
• Inverell Football Club
• Moore Creek Football Club Inc
• Norths United Football Club Incorporated
• Old Bar Barbarians Football Club
• Shores United Soccer Club

Football VIC

• Barwon Heads Soccer Club
• Bayside Argonauts Football Club
• Berwick City Soccer Club
• Boroondara Eagles Football Club Inc
• Craigieburn city Fc
• Croydon City Soccer Club Inc.
• Darebin Women's Sports Club
• Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club
• Deakin Ducks Fc
• Drysdale Soccer Club
• Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club
• Footscray United Rangers Football Club
• Gippsland United Football Club
• Glen Eira FC Football VIC
• Keilor Park Soccer Club
• Leongatha Knights Football Club
• Middle Park Football Club
• Officer City Football Club Incorporated
• PEGS Soccer Club Football VIC
• Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club
• Spring Hills FC
• Swan Hill Soccer League
• Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club
• Truganina Lions Soccer Club

Football QLD

• Annerley Recreation Club
• Bluebirds United Football Club Inc
• Brighton District Soccer Club Inc
• Burdekin Football Club Inc
• Centary Stormers FC
• Dayboro and Districrs Football Club
• Gold Coast Knights Football Club
• Holland Park Hawks Football Club
• Logan Village Falcons All Sports
• Mackay Wanderers Football Club
• Moreton City Excelsior FC
• Rebels Football Club
• Redlands United Football Club
• The Gap Football Club
• Townsville Warriors Football Club Inc
• Woombye Snakes Football Club Inc

Football SA

• Adelaide Ateltico
• Adelaide Jaguars Football Club Incorporated
• Campbelltown City Soccer and Social Club
• Flinders United Women's Football Club
• Mount Barker United Soccer Club
• Sacred Heart Old Collegians Soccer Club
• South Adelaide Panthers FC
• Sturt Lions Football Club Incorporated
• The Pulteney Old Scholars Soccer Club Incorporated

Football West 

• Baldivis Districts Sporting Club Incorporated
• Country Coastal Junior Soccer Association
• Esperance Soccer association
• Forrestfield United Football Club
• Karratha Glory Soccer Club
• Kingsley Westside Football Club
• Perth Atheletic FC
• Twin City Saints Soccer Club
• Westnam United Soccer Club

Football TAS

• Clarence Zebras Football Club
• Hobart City Football Clug
• Launceston United Soccer Club
• North Launceston Eagles Soccer Club
• South Hobart Football Club
• Woodbridge Football Club

Football NT

• Darwin Olympic Sporting Club
• Litchfield Football Club
• Palmerston Rovers Football Club Incorporated
• Stormbirds
• Verdi Football Club

For more information on the grants, click HERE.

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Brisbane Roar has announced a significant partnership with Hellyer Metals, a prominent mining company, as the club’s new Major Sponsor. The two-year agreement commences in the 2024/25 season.

As part of the sponsorship, the company has secured naming rights to the game day technical area signage for both the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s and Ninja A-League Women’s matches.

Hellyer Metals, recognised for its commitment to responsible growth and operational excellence in the global mining industry, is also dedicated to fostering the development of women’s football.

Hellyer Metals is a base metals mining operation based on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia who are committed to playing a leading role in the global mining industry.

Their tailings reprocessing process produces high-quality lead and zinc concentrates, along with valuable gold and silver credits, powered by renewable hydro power.

Both parties are dedicated to success through innovative practices and responsible business strategies with the goal to become and remain industry leaders for years to come.

Hellyer Metals are entering the football market a year after first entering the Australian sports market with their Hawthorn Hawks partnership in 2023.

Brisbane Roar CEO & Chairman, Kaz Patafta spoke about his excitement for the future of this partnership.

“We’re pleased to have Hellyer Metals on board for this 2024/25 season, supporting our club as a Major Sponsor and getting behind the growth of women’s football. We’re looking forward to seeing this partnership grow over the coming seasons,” Patafta said in a press release.

Hellyer Metals CEO, Graham Cox echoed the same sentiment.

“The Hellyer Metals team are delighted to have partnered with Brisbane Roar for two seasons. We are passionate about seeing women’s football continue to develop and look forward to being a long-running partner of the club,” Cox said in a press release.

This partnership marks a strong collaboration between Hellyer Metals and Brisbane Roar, aligning the company’s commitment to excellence and community support with the club’s passion for football development.

The sponsorship not only enhances the club’s resources but also provides Hellyer Metals with a platform to amplify their brand while supporting the growth of women’s football—a win-win for both parties.

Brisbane Roar under CEO & Chairman Kaz Patafta continue to be one of the busiest A-League's clubs in the business side of operations, growing their already large corporate portfolio to ensure a sustainable financial future for Queensland's only professional football club.

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Manchester United's season goes from bad to outright embarrassing as each week passes, and a new report suggests that their massive apparel deal with Adidas is under threat due to their on-field failures.

According to The Telegraph, Adidas holds the right to terminate the deal with a one-year notice period should the Red Devils face relegation to the Championship.

United’s Form Sparks Concerns Over Lucrative Partnership

Manchester United’s long-standing relationship with German sportswear giant Adidas is under serious threat as their poor form continues to raise relegation fears.

Adidas first supplied Manchester United's apparel in 1980 to 1992 before reuniting with the clu in 2015 following a 23-year gap.

The two parties recently inked a lucrative 10-year extension in June 2023, worth $1.8 billion AUD (£900 million). However, United's current Premier League struggles could jeopardise this deal.

Premier League Woes Could Prove Costly

Sitting in 13th place, Manchester United are only seven points above the relegation zone, with Ipswich Town breathing down their neck.

It comes after the club had the least amount of points after the halfway mark to a Premier League season in the club's history (22 pts), a record they seemingly find themselves breaking every year.

In the unlikely event that relegation does happen, the financial blows would be critical for the club.

Adidas’ Relegation Clause Explained

Adidas reportedly has a clause in the contract that allows them to reduce payments by 50% if Manchester United are not in the Premier League. Moreover, the club stands to lose an additional $20 million AUD (£10 million) annually if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

If United were relegated, their payout could shrink to a mere $70 million (£35 million)  next season—a massive drop from the initial agreement.

Relegation Battle Heats Up

United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged the reality of the relegation battle his side faces.

Even if the concept of a Red Devils relegation seems impossible, the mere discussion of it is an indictment on the club.

Conclusion

If Manchester United’s downward spiral continues, the club not only risks relegation but could face severe financial consequences.

Their lack of Champions League football and a potential season without European football as a whole would mark a historic low point for the club and bring significant commercial repercussions.

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Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.

With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport's trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.

"Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities," Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.

"We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game."

The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport's expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.

Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.

Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.

The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.

Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game's ecosystem.

The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.

"There's a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season," Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.

For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.

The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.

Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.

With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.

Register now for 2025 by clicking here.

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Apex Steel Supplies has been confirmed as a naming rights partner of South Australia's top tier women's leagues. In collaboration with Football South Australia (FSA), Apex Steel will brand with the Women's State League (WSL) and the Women's National Premier League South Australia (WNPLSA).

Operating since 1994, Apex Steel Supplies is one of the most major privately owned steel companies in Australia, with networks across the country. Through the partnership, Apex Steel demonstrates itself as a strong supporter of South Australian and women's sport.

Football South Australia CEO, Michael Carter, warmly welcomed Apex Steel into the FSA community.

"We are delighted to welcome Apex Steel Supplies to the Football SA family," he said via press release.

"To secure Apex Steel Supplies as the Women’s National Premier League and Women’s State League naming rights partner days from our 2025 season fixture announcement is a great outcome for the game.

"Women’s football continues a strong trajectory, and investment from local South Australian brands is great for the state and local game. On behalf of the entire football family, I want to thank Apex Steel Supplies Managing Director John for his support."

Managing Director of Apex Steel Supplies, John Konstandopoulos, expressed pride for the collaboration and looked to the future.

"Apex Steel Supplies is proud to be onboard as naming rights partner with the most competitive Women’s Football Leagues in the state," he said in a press release. 

"We look forward to seeing WNPLSA and WSL teams take to the pitch with our support, and we’re honoured to be a part of this journey.

"We’re confident that this partnership will be beneficial to both parties and wish the women’s teams a successful season ahead."

The partnership between Football South Australia and Apex Steel Supplies presents a fresh and invigorating spark for women's football, continuing to drive the forward momentum of the sport at a local level.

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Melbourne City FC has confirmed the renewal of its partnership with Workplace Law, a leading provider of employment and workplace relations expertise, for another two years.

Following a successful inaugural season together, this renewal signifies an ongoing collaboration that highlights shared commitments to excellence, equality, and innovation.

Workplace Law continues to support City's Women's program, with their logo proudly displayed on the back of the A-League Women’s training kit.

Furthermore, the logo will feature on the matchday attire of City Women’s Head Coach, Michael Matricciani, reflecting Workplace Law’s unwavering dedication to advancing women in sport.

Melbourne City FC’s partnership with Workplace Law, backed by a history of driving success on and off the field, aligns with the Club’s goal of fostering a high-performance culture for its players and staff.

Melbourne City FC CEO, Brad Rowse, shared his enthusiasm for the renewed partnership.

"We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Workplace Law, a company that shares our passion for driving excellence and creating opportunities for women in sport," he said via press release.

“Their support plays a vital role in ensuring our Women’s program can continue to thrive, both on and off the pitch. We look forward to achieving even greater success together over the next two years.”

Workplace Law Director and CEO, Shane Koelmeyer, shared this excitement.

“We absolutely love being part of the Melbourne City family and are delighted to extend our partnership for another two seasons. They are the ‘gold standard’ when it comes to creating the ideal high-performance environment for their coaches and players to thrive on and off the pitch," he said via press release.

“The Club has a wonderful history of sustained success in both the women’s and men’s programs, and we look forward to sharing in, along with their other amazing partners, further success in the future.”

This partnership not only bolsters Melbourne City’s ALW program but also showcases Workplace Law’s commitment to empowering teams and individuals to excel.

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Football Australia applauds the ASC's historic $385 million investment to boost high-performance and participation through the "Win Well" and "Play Well" programs.

This funding underscores the vital impact of sport in Australian communities and enhances pathways from grassroots to elite levels.

Football Australia is delighted to receive $6,319,500 in funding for the period from January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

• Win Well funding: $5,379,000
• Play Well funding: $940,500

This marks a 25% boost in high-performance funding from the previous cycle, reinforcing football's status as Australia's favourite team sport and its expanding impact both on and off the field.

This investment will enhance Football Australia’s efforts to develop the game across all levels. The Win Well funding will back high-performance programs, equipping the Subway Socceroos, CommBank Matildas, CommBank ParaMatildas, CommBank Pararoos, and Youth National Teams for global success.

It also fortifies talent pathways, coaching, and advancements in sports science and medicine.

The Play Well funding emphasises grassroots development, fostering inclusive participation, and ensuring safe, welcoming spaces for players, coaches, and volunteers nationwide. As Australia’s largest participation sport, football has seen remarkable growth in women’s and girls’ involvement, driven by the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™.

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson commended the Australian Government's dedication to sport and emphasised its positive impact on football.

"This record investment from the Australian Government is a testament to the power of sport to inspire and connect our communities," he said via press release.

“The increased funding through the Win Well program will enhance our ability to compete on the global stage, while the Play Well program enables us to bring the joy of football to more Australians, ensuring inclusive, safe, and welcoming environments for all.

"I would like to sincerely thank the Federal Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells, and the Australian Government for their unwavering support and belief in the future of Australian football. This funding will empower us to build on the incredible momentum of our game, uniting Australians through football and preparing our athletes for success on the road to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032."

Football Australia is dedicated to achieving excellence in sport and increasing opportunities for all Australians to participate in the world’s most popular game.

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Football Victoria (FV) has confirmed a partnership with Sports Aid, which has been named the Official Medical Partner for all FV events.

The collaboration will ensure that participants in these prominent tournaments benefit from top-tier medical support and first aid services.

Established in 2023, Sports Aid has rapidly positioned itself as a leading provider of medical and safety expertise in Australian sport. Based in Melbourne, the organisation has expanded nationwide, offering its services at a variety of events, from grassroots sports to corporate tournaments.

With over 70 partnerships across the country, Sports Aid’s team of accredited professionals—including first aid responders, sports trainers, and event safety specialists—plays a pivotal role in promoting athlete welfare and event safety.

Under the alliance, Sports Aid will deliver medical personnel, including first aid responders and sports trainers, at FV’s major competitions and events throughout Victoria.

Their on-site presence will provide immediate medical assistance for injuries or health concerns, mitigate risks associated with physical activity, and enhance overall safety for players and spectators alike.

FV's Executive Manager - Commercial, Chris Speldewinde spoke about the role Sports Aid will play in improving Victorian football.

"Their expertise ensures the safety of our participants, which is paramount in delivering outstanding sporting experiences." he said in a press release.

Sports Aid’s founder, James Theodorakopoulos, also commented on the partnership.

"We are thrilled to be working with Football Victoria. Our primary focus is on safety, and we’re committed to ensuring that every player and participant has a seamless medical experience at FV events," he said in a press release.

"It’s not just about responding to injuries, but also ensuring the overall well-being of everyone involved."

Football Victoria adds Sports Aid on top of recent PILA, VETO Sports and Novotel Preston who all play a specific role in ensuring players involved with FV get the best out of their game.

FV have been focusing heavily on developing local football with facility upgrades, equipment partnerships as well as launching their GO Family football program aimed at improving fitness and building stronger family connections.

This specific partnership with Sports Aid is another that will play a positive role in the sport across the state.

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The second-ever edition of the Unite Round sparked some interesting debates and narratives about whether the A-League can properly host an inclusive event of this scale.

As the contract with Destination NSW expires, the question remains; Is the experiment worth committing to or should it be scrapped?

A potentially unfair comparison would be to NRL's Magic Round and AFL's Gather Round who managed to succeed with the concept in its first two seasons. It's quite simple, the A-League don't have the wide-ranging committed supporter base to reach those heights just yet.

But will they do so quick enough for this investment to be worth it?

Challenges that undermine Unite Round

It was a weekend that had a few positives, as mentioned in the A-Leagues press release last week but was certainly marred by a slew of negative and/or embarrassing moments.

Whilst match-going fans, who spent the weekend in Sydney, anecdotally seemed to truly enjoy the experience, there simply weren't enough that flew out to watch their team play.

The 45,000-capacity Allianz Stadium had a rather empty look for most of the games, mirroring Covid lockdown football, and the lack of atmosphere really took away from the experience that was promised when the concept replaced the controversial Sydney Grand Final deal last season.

For a league that has constantly struggled with attendances since the horror 2021-22 season (which saw attendances slashed in half post-covid), the ability to hold a full-scale weekend of football in one city is realistically never going to work, especially in a cost-of-living crisis.

Another issue that is increasingly being brought up in media and fan spaces is the NSW Police releasing a statement before the weekend had started, ensuring that they were going to crackdown on pre-game marches, flares, banners and flags in an attempt to 'keep everyone safe'.

Baffling for any hardcore fan, it was a truly tone-deaf action that stripped football of its core: intense and passionate tribalism.

Highlights of the weekend

Focusing on the positives, in the A-League press release, they revealed the numbers behind an improvement on last season's first-ever United Round.

- 33 goals were scored across 12 games between both the Ninja A-League Women and Isuzu UTE A-League Men.

- Attendance was up 50% on the first-ever Unite Round with a cumulative match attendance of more than 71,000 fans. This was certainly helped by an amazing 30,777 crowd to watch the Sydney Derby.

- Over a thousand fans take part in grassroots clinics, tournament and fan zones.

Commenting on the overall feel of Unite Round 2024/25, Nick Garcia, A-Leagues Commissioner, said:

“It was a turbulent build up with a ticketing outage, a change in venue for our six Ninja A-League Women matches and a planned train strike - but we’re really proud to have welcomed 50% more fans from across Australia and New Zealand to Sydney compared to our first-ever Unite Round," Garcia said in a press release.

“We really believe in the long term potential of this partnership with the NSW Government and Destination NSW, establishing a new tradition and welcoming football fans from across Australia and New Zealand to electrify this incredible city.

"This event really resonates with our young and diverse fanbase and aligns with our drive to unite communities through a shared love of football. It’s the pinnacle weekend of professional football, and we hope this is a tradition that we can continue to build on and grow in the coming years.

“It’s been a really strong start to our 20th season. Crowds have grown by 30% year-on-year across the first four rounds of the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, while the new Saturday night doubleheader on 10 Bold has also increased the free-to-air national audience by 34%. We look forward to continuing this momentum across both leagues as we move into the summer period.”

The path forward for Unite Round

The words from Nick Garcia suggest that the A-League are committed to making this concept work and are hoping the progress made in the last 10 months can be replicated over time.

The direction in which the United Round goes in is still unknown with the expiration of Destination NSW but it also could lead to an innovation that bursts this weekend into life.

Do they try it in New Zealand for a year? Or up in the Gold Coast where people might have more incentive to enjoy a weekend up in the Sunshine Coast?

The chance for experimentation surely has to be attempted considering the trends suggesting that this weekend won't be considered an outright 'success' in the short term.

Conclusion

In the end, the future of the Unite Round hinges on bold experimentation and a commitment to creating a uniquely football-centric spectacle.

Whether it's exploring new locations like New Zealand or the Gold Coast, or innovating to better engage fans across the country, the A-League has an opportunity to redefine what a national celebration of football can look like.

The league’s struggles with attendance and atmosphere are real, but so too is the potential for growth in a competition that resonates with Australia’s diverse and passionate football community.

The Unite Round has shown glimmers of promise amid its challenges—now it’s up to the A-League to seize that promise and turn it into a tradition worth rallying behind.

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The Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has marked a significant year of achievement and player advocacy at its Annual General Meeting, highlighting the organisation's continued commitment to supporting professional footballers nationally in this financial year.

The AGM showcased a remarkable year of growth and impact, with the organisation reporting a record membership of 704 players and a comprehensive range of support services that extend far beyond the football pitch.

It also announced some notable leadership development, David Williams was elected to the PFA Executive, bringing valuable experience from his A-League Men career.

David Williams has commented on his connection with the PFA and his dedication to the new role.

“For me joining the Executive means a great deal. To have the backing from my peers and friends within the PFA is special and I feel humbled to be chosen for this role," he said via press release.

“I have depended on the PFA over my career and have benefited from it and used so many resources and received so much help over my years as a PFA member.

“To now be able to give my insights and experience over my career and contribute positively to all PFA members is a privilege and a role I will be honoured to take on. I look forward to working closely with all involved."

Alongside David Williams, Dylan Holmes was ratified in his position, while international players Clare Hunt and Mathew Ryan were re-elected to continue their influential roles.

The meeting also celebrated five outstanding members with Life Membership, recognising Leigh Broxham, Natasha Rigby, Jason Hoffman, Emma Checker, and Mark Milligan for their exceptional contributions to the sport and the players' union.

A key highlight was the Footballers' Trust, the organisation's charitable arm, which has invested over $500,000 into 24 community programs since its establishment five years ago. This initiative underscores the players' commitment to giving back to the community.

The PFA's comprehensive support for players was evident in its impressive statistics for the 2023/24 financial year. The organisation opened 190 legal cases, secured $500,000 in outstanding salaries, and provided 203 education grants.

Mental health support remained a critical focus, with 1,082 confidential sessions accessed by members.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch emphasised the significance of the players' leadership, stating that the organisation continues to be driven by a commitment to player welfare and professional development.

Other notable achievements included delivering skin cancer checks for National Team players, hosting 18 past player events, and facilitating skill development workshops for 483 A-Leagues players. The organisation also secured a world-leading Collective Bargaining Agreement for National Team players.

The returning and newly appointed Executives, led by Jackson Irvine as President and Francis Awaritefe as Chair, reflect a strong, diverse leadership committed to advancing the interests of professional footballers in Australia.

As the PFA continues to evolve, its focus remains clear: supporting players, advocating for their rights, and contributing positively to the broader football ecosystem.

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The merger of Cumberland United and Flinders Flames in 2021 marked a transformative moment for what would become Flinders United, a club that has quickly become one of the biggest women's only football clubs in South Australia.

For Flinders Flames, it was an opportunity to overcome limited facilities and a stagnant player base, while Cumberland United aimed to revive its senior women’s program and offer its juniors a clear progression into senior and elite football.

Together, they have formed a club that champions development, loyalty, and equitable opportunities in a rapidly evolving football landscape.

However, like other women's football clubs in SA, they face challenges for funding and finding a permanent home to play matches.

SoccerScene had a conversation with Flinders United President Shannen Connolly where she discussed the future for Flinders United, the club's successful philosophy on player development, and the funding problems for women's football in South Australia.

[caption id="attachment_27556" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Image credit: Noe Llamas-Gomez/Flinders United[/caption]

Theo Athans:

What motivated the merge between Cumberland United and Flinders Flames in 2021?

Shannen Connolly:

I came from the Flinders Flames side so we were just a senior women's football club on our own. When I first joined the club, we had four pitches and we were just senior women, and then the university started building on top of all the land so we were decimated down to one real pitch and no real training space because we shared that with AFL, Softball and Baseball.

We would only rely on senior player numbers so there was nothing feeding into our teams, we just relied on players sticking around year after year.

On Cumberland's side, they used to have a senior women's cohort that just became non-existent, and they only ended up with juniors. At Flinders Flames we started exploring options around and eventually this opportunity presented where we could create what we call a 'lifetime pathway' so juniors had somewhere to feed into to senior football and then the senior women's competition could elevate into the WNPL competitions.

That wasn't happening, for Cumberland United WFC, their juniors would age out and go to clubs where senior football was offered. Cumberland had recently upgraded facilities at the Women's Memorial Playing Field, they had a brand new changeroom facility built and a dedicated space for the girls, so it meant that Flinders Flames had an option to extend on their location.

We now maintain three sites for Flinders United which is the Women's Memorial Playing Fields, which is our main home ground, we have Flinders University as a backup, and we are also partnered and affiliated with Club Marion who allow us to use their facilities as well.

TA:

Facilities seem to be a big issue in women's football. With the club hosting such a big group of players, are the facilities good enough as it is or is the club looking to upgrade?

SC:

We're now looking to expand because at the moment our Women's NPL team can't play at any of our grounds because they're not up to the minimum facility requirements.

We have to invest in fencing, scoreboards and other requirements in order to host games at our grounds so there is definitely room for improvement. We've only got the home and away changerooms at Women's Memorial [Playing Fields] where we've got multiple teams on one day so ideally, we need another set of changerooms or two.

The car park at our facility, it's a dirt road to get into the facility so that's another difficulty. Office, Rec, Sport and Racing did not have the funding to complete that full project.

TA:

So where does the NPL side play their home matches now?

SC:

The last two seasons, we have been playing out of SA Athletic stadium but that no longer meets Football SA's requirements because the pitch dimensions are changing, and the viewing is not up to that elite competition standard.

We're now looking at our options to try and fence our facility at Women's Memorial [Playing Fields], having our main pitch fenced off and adding those additional requirements such as a scoreboard and scaffolding for any media.

Women's football has been overshadowed because a lot of men's affiliated clubs will get what I call the 'token women's team' because they're eligible to apply for greater grants than the females are if they're a sole female club.

There are a lot of clubs who get facility upgrades but the unfortunate thing is most of the time the girls don't get to use these facilities; they go preferentially to their male counterparts.

TA:

Player development has been pushed by Football SA. For a club as big as Flinders United, how do you get the best out of each and every player to eventually have them playing top level football?

SC:

We were recognised by Football Australia as Club of the Year in the Club Changer Programme for the way that we foster and develop our players.

We go against the grain and typically try and keep our players in their age groups in the juniors so we're not pushing 13- or 14-year-olds into senior football just to make a team. We are privileged in the fact that we can cater them correctly and foster their development and pathways, so we offer our older junior girls' pathways into senior football in a more holistic environment.

They get to train with the seniors, they get introduced into the seniors and overall, it's a managed progression whereas most clubs tend to dump their u17's or senior teams for example with 13- and 14-year-olds or they push them into a state league or community teams because they need to fill one.

As a club we don't have to focus on that, we've got every age group. This year we're going to have u7's, 9's, 10's, 11's, 12's, 13's, 14's, 15's, 16's, 17’s and then we're going to have at minimum seven community or elite competition teams so there is a transgressional process through each stage.

All the junior and senior coaches will sit down weekly and identify players that are showing potential or need improvement by chatting and conversing about it which fosters that enhancement for them.

It seems as if every player gets a focus because of the coaches' hard work which is great for a club of this size.

Our coaches work really hard together, we've had Holly Hayes as our Junior Technical Director over the last couple of years and she's really focused on player development, growth and not pushing these girls beyond their limits but giving them those opportunities to pathways forward.

We get players from other clubs saying they don't want to play juniors, but we have this pathway and way of operating where when they do join, they see a benefit in not getting dumped into a team or not knowing what the structure is. All of that gets integrated into their learning and development.

[caption id="attachment_27557" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Image credit: Noe Llamas-Gomez/Flinders United[/caption]

TA:

There seems to be an issue across all states with player retention in boys and girls football. How does the club ensure that players stay and are loyal to the club for many years?

SC:

Loyalty is a big question mark these days because you get clubs over offering so we might give a girl an u15 red position, but she goes and trials somewhere else and they offer her an u17 spot because that’s all their going to have or need to fill.

It's creating a massive monster because girls are being over offered and in reality, when they go there, they're not getting what they've been promised and it's a regular pattern that we're seeing at the club. The Players and even parents that join us have to trust the process that we are genuinely trying to do the right thing and benefit their development. It’s a hard mentality to change.

In relations to us, I think the way that we talk to our players, the way that we engage our players, it's not just what we do on the pitch as well, we do off-field stuff with them like nutrition, mental health, periodisation, barista skills and more which goes above and beyond what translates on the field.

I'm very fortunate to say that 90% of our senior cohort have stayed with us for years and I'm talking in excess of 5-10 years. We have one player who celebrated 20 years with Flinders Flames and Flinders United recently, I've got a junior player now entering senior football who has been with Cumberland since she was 7 and she has continued all the way through.

It's just identifying those that continue their loyalty, and we constantly engage with their parents or the players directly to make sure their hopes and desires align with what we're trying to offer them.

We're really honest with our players, if we say 'this is where we think you're at, at the moment' then that's exactly what it is and that's what we're offering and promising to deliver you. There is obviously extension opportunities but at the end of the day we're not going to overpromise someone at the start on something and then not deliver on it, this is how I believe clubs can help build loyalty and stop feeding the monster that is being created.

[caption id="attachment_27559" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Image credit: Noe Llamas-Gomez/Flinders United[/caption]

TA:

There's few grants going out to women's football so what are your personal thoughts on the current competitive nature of the grant structure in South Australia?

SC:

The Power of Her grant is the recent one that is coming up but that requires 50% buy-in from the club itself, now for a club like ours that is a new entity, we don't have hundreds of thousands dollars in the bank account. That's a big stretch for us.

There haven't in the past been great opportunities for grants for just girls and women. Like I mentioned before, there have been grants that have been “token” grants if you have one girls or women's side to upgrade facilities.

I understand the boys generate a lot of revenue through sponsors but also it comes down to some of the fees that clubs are charging, it's exorbitant. I've seen fees for MiniRoos in excess of $1000, what parent can pay that money for a kid aged 7-11? That to me is ridiculous, our MiniRoos fees are about $500 and that covers their uniform and registration but only a small portion gets kicked back to us. I want to make it more affordable for players and families.

There needs to be more funding for women and girls' football, and it must be solely for girls and women’s football not in conjunction with a men's side. Girls and women in sport are now gaining greater recognition, breaking barriers, and receiving the visibility and support they deserve on and off the field. It's time for S.A to step up to support this new era.

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Football Queensland's Far North and Gulf region has recorded unprecedented development figures throughout 2024, transforming the regional football landscape.

Football Queensland has stated that coaching participation has soared by 800%, while available courses have also increased to 400%, heralding a new era for football development in Queensland's northern corridor.

The introduction of female-only coaching courses has proved pivotal. With 29 participants, Football Queensland has marked a significant advancement towards its 2027 gender parity target and built on the growing appeal of female coaching in the region.

Football Queensland General Manager and State Technical Director Gabor Ganczer noted the significance of these developments.

“Delivering courses specifically designed for female participants forms part of FQ’s broader commitment to inclusivity and diversity, as outlined in our 2023-2026 One Football Strategy, as we continue striving to reach our 50/50 gender parity target by 2027 by supporting and catering for women and girls across all roles in football," he said via press release.

"These figures demonstrate our organisation's commitment to grassroots development. The response has exceeded all expectations.

The expansion of coach education remains paramount for Football Queensland's Far North and Gulf region, with local capacity building central to its strategy. The development of both players and coaches ensures clear pathways within the FQ Academy for local talent to progress to state and national representation.

Football Australia's revised course structures have enhanced the relevance of coaching education for community practitioners across the region. These modifications provide coaches with refined tools and methodologies to better support grassroots player development.

The organisation's commitment to excellence will extend into 2025 with the planned introduction of the AFC/FQ B Diploma, further strengthening the region's coaching pathway.

FQ Senior Manager - Technical (Northern Conference) Michael Edwards emphasised the strategic importance of this data.

“The growth of the FNG region’s football ecosystem in 2024 is also reflected in the rising commitment of local clubs to invest in their professional development, with Cairns-based Southside Comets FC making history by becoming one of the first four regional clubs to achieve Tier 2 club development status," he said via press release.

“This milestone reflects a strong commitment to not only improving coaching practices but also expanding their club’s access to the FQ Academy pathway."

These achievements align with Football Queensland's 2023-2026 One Football Strategy, establishing clear pathways through the FQ Academy for emerging talent.

As Football Queensland moves into 2025, these developmental foundations are a positive first step to further advance regional football throughout the Far North and Gulf region.

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The AFC Women's Football Conference 2024 has heralded a positive future for women's football after a successful three day gathering.

Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the conference welcomed women's national team coaches and technical staff to share insights from November 12 to 14, building off an incredibly prosperous year of women's football.

The opening day of the conference celebrated the achievements of Asian teams, including Australia's semi-final appearance at the Women's World Cup 2023.

AFC General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John, outlined the importance of celebrating these achievements to power women's football.

Day two of the conference provided participants an overview of the upcoming AFC Women's Champions League, the AFC Women's Calendar for 2025-29 and changes to Asian women's competitions.

The final day of the conference presented an analysis of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2024's teams and a forum on the future of women's football, featuring Australia U20 women's national team head coach Leah Blayney.

Australia U17 women's national team head coach, Rae Dower, expressed excitement for Australian women's football with the Asian Cup heading down under in 2026.

“The future is so exciting, especially now that we have the dates and venues confirmed for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™," she said via press release.

"The football fever from the FIFA Women’s World Cup is still very strong with the Matildas continuously selling out stadiums. We can’t wait for the rest of Asia to come and share the experience with us."

The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia, will begin March 1, 2026, learn more here.

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The 2023/24 season marked a milestone for European women’s soccer, with average attendance across the top four leagues rising by 24% compared to the previous year, according to data from sports marketing agency Two Circles. The growth highlights the increasing popularity of women’s soccer across Europe, with notable performances in England and France.

Record Attendance Growth in England and France

England’s Women’s Super League (WSL) recorded an impressive 41% year-over-year (YoY) increase in attendance, leading the charge among the four leagues. This surge was largely attributed to clubs hosting matches in larger venues.

Arsenal emerged as a standout, with an average attendance of 52,000 at the Emirates Stadium compared to just 3,595 at Meadow Park in Boreham Wood. The Gunners also achieved the highest average attendance per game across the leagues, drawing nearly 30,000 fans per match—almost triple the second-highest figure recorded by Manchester United (10,951).

France’s D1 Féminine also posted strong results, with a 38% YoY rise in attendance. This performance underscores the growing enthusiasm for women’s soccer in France, mirroring trends seen across Europe.

Modest Growth in Spain and Germany

Spain’s Liga F saw an 11% YoY increase, while Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga experienced a smaller 6% rise. Despite having the lowest growth rate, the Frauen-Bundesliga achieved significant progress in reducing low-attendance matches. The league saw a 10% decrease in games with fewer than 1,000 fans, complemented by an uptick in matches drawing between 1,000 and 5,000 spectators.

World Cup Impact and Sustained Growth

The impact of hosting major tournaments close to home on women’s soccer is undeniable. The UEFA Women’s Euros held in England not only attracted new commercial partners but also introduced fresh audiences to the sport, boosting the Women’s Super League (WSL).

Interestingly, the 2023/24 season saw slower crowd growth following the FIFA Women’s World Cup than after the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022. Two Circles attributed this to the World Cup’s location in Australia and New Zealand, which presented time zone challenges and geographical distance for European fans.

However, despite the slower rise in Europe, Australia’s A-League Women experienced a remarkable 92% increase in average attendance following the FIFA Women’s World Cup, showcasing the powerful influence of hosting a local tournament on fan engagement.

Visa’s Women’s Football Whitepaper, The Compound Effect in Women’s Football, highlights a key insight: in both England and Australia, the leading driver of new fan interest was simply the pride and excitement of hosting a major tournament. Fans recognised these events as historic milestones, further cementing their connection to the sport.

However, the season bucked trends from previous years by maintaining or increasing average attendance from the first to the second half of the campaign across all four leagues. This consistency stands in contrast to the 2022/23 season, which saw a mid-season drop in attendance for the WSL, Liga F, and Frauen-Bundesliga.

Growing Momentum for Women’s Soccer

The consistent rise in attendance across Europe’s top leagues demonstrates the growing appeal of women’s soccer, driven by a combination of strategic scheduling, larger venues, and increased investment in the sport.

Two Circles highlighted that a major factor driving the increase in attendance is clubs’ use of larger stadiums, often owned by their male counterparts.

However, it's the investment in training facilities, academies and grassroots football that has made the biggest impact in its current surge of momentum.

With these developments, women’s soccer continues to build a strong foundation for sustained growth in the coming years.

Conclusion

Women's soccer has a uniqueness to it that is started to become celebrated and enjoyed by the masses.

With the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 held in Switzerland, it gives women's soccer another chance to grow the game in the host country and nearby regions, whilst also attracting a new casual audience.

If the past four years have told us anything it’s that women's soccer is only going to grow, with increased broadcast rights, developed academies and CBA's raising the minimum wage for players, it's assumed that the quality on the pitch will coincide with its popularity surge.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has confirmed the continuation of its pivotal partnership with Austraffic, extending into the 2024-25 A-Leagues season.

This marks the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between the players' union and the traffic data specialists.

Established in 1983 under the name Australasian Traffic Surveys, Austraffic has emerged as a leading authority in transport analysis across Australia and New Zealand.

The organisation has completed countless comprehensive studies focusing on traffic patterns, transport systems, and pedestrian movements throughout all states and territories.

Their team of specialist traffic engineers and IT professionals collaborate closely with customers, providing tailored support in survey design, detailed analysis, and sophisticated data presentation.

The collaboration encompasses two of Australian football's most prestigious honours: the monthly peer-voted Austraffic A-Leagues Player of the Month and the annual Austraffic PFA Footballer of the Year awards.

October saw Steph Catley, Jackson Irvine, Mary Fowler, and Alex Paulsen recognised as 2024's major award recipients.

Kathryn Gill PFA Co-Chief Executive has spoken on the excitement of the continued partnership.

“Austraffic has proudly partnered with our Players’ Awards for the past three years, celebrating the outstanding achievements of A-Leagues footballers and Australians playing professionally abroad, both on a monthly and annual basis," she said via press release.

“As we enter our fourth year together, Austraffic’s continued commitment to recognising player excellence enables us to elevate these player-voted awards."

Austraffic’s Martin Jordan-Williams, the company's principal in Queensland, also mirrored the enthusiasm of another year for the partnership.

“We are delighted to continue our wonderful partnership with the PFA and their player awards for a fourth consecutive year, as we embark on yet another exciting A-Leagues season," he said via press release.

“The PFA’s player awards celebrate the excellence of Australians playing both in the A-Leagues and overseas, which aligns with our values at Austraffic. We can’t wait to see the next crop of players recognised throughout the next 12 months for their endeavours on the field."

Each monthly winner's achievement is commemorated with a specially designed Park SSC ball, continuing a second-year partnership emphasising community impact.

Winners commit to donating ten balls to local community programmes and schools, fostering grassroots development.

Last season's recipients included standout performers Alex Paulsen, Josh Nisbet, Adam Taggart, and Bruno Fornaroli in the men's competition.

Holly McNamara, Chloe Logarzo, and Michelle Heyman were among the women's honourees.

The awards, established in 2009 with Tim Cahill as the inaugural men's winner, have grown to become Australian football's benchmark for peer recognition.

The women's category, introduced in 2010 with Servet Uzunlar's victory, completes what has become the sport's most comprehensive player-driven awards programme.

This partnership reinforces both organisations' commitment to recognising excellence in Australian football, with voting for the 2024-25 season's first monthly award set to commence as the A-Leagues season progresses.

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Football Queensland (FQ) marked major milestones in youth and junior player development across the Far North and Gulf (FNG) region in 2024, as the FQ Academy continued to establish itself as the leading pathway for developing football talent in the area.

FQ have put a focus on academy over the last 12 months, utilising different programs and partnerships to help springboard off the men's and women's international success.

The overall goal is to have Queensland at the forefront of Australian football talent, representing the Socceroos and Matildas in high volume.

Club Development Ambassador – Far North & Gulf (Cairns) Jack Southwell discussed the many reasons why there has been a surge in the region, following FQ's plans of focusing on academy success.

“Football in the Far North and Gulf is flourishing, with more promising young athletes than ever before gaining access to top tier coaching and competitive opportunities through the FQ Academy, driving a surge in participation and engagement from both players and clubs, and fuelling a growing enthusiasm for the game across the region,” Southwell said in a press release.

“This year, the region has experienced a 350% increase in the number of players involved in the FQ Academy, with over 220 players—both male and female—joining the program. This surge in participation speaks to the increasing recognition of young players in the quality of development provided by the FQ Academy to help them reach their full potential.

“One of the standout achievements of the 2024 season was the selection of 27 local players from the FNG region to represent Queensland at the National Youth Championships, showcasing the FQ Academy pathway’s excellence in elite coaching, specialised development, and competitive opportunities.

"This alignment with national technical standards not only highlights the growing strength of the FQ Academy but also continues to open doors for local talent to reach the highest levels of the game.

“Building on the success of 2024, Football Queensland will continue to strengthen local coaching expertise and enhance player development across the Far North and Gulf region in 2025, creating a sustainable and advanced football ecosystem for players, coaches, and clubs to thrive.”

This comes after FQ confirmed their Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Youth and Junior programs will partner with Brisbane Roar for 2025.

This is to aid the QAS program into developing more professional players through a strengthened, narrow pathway that utilises the states only professional team.

The recent moves by FQ to focus on their academy structure and progress is proving to be successful and they are strongly committed to creating opportunities for players, coaches, and clubs to reach their potential. Football Queensland looks forward to another successful season in 2025.

FQ will continue to prioritise growth in the Far North and Gulf region and beyond, with the FQ Academy at the forefront of this mission.

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UEFA and FIFPRO Europe have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening players' influence in European football governance.

As part of the agreement signed by both organisations' leaders in Paris, a FIFPRO Europe representative will join UEFA's executive committee starting May 2025.

UEFA has also pledged to consult FIFPRO Europe on decisions affecting players' employment conditions and any competition reforms that could influence players' workload.

Additionally, active players and player representatives will take part in a new UEFA Professional Players’ Advisory Forum, set to begin meeting next month to discuss solutions for collective challenges facing professional footballers in Europe.

This three-year MOU will grant footballers and their unions more influence over decisions impacting their work, including match calendar adjustments, playing conditions, and health and safety issues.

The agreement also establishes a framework for FIFPRO Europe and UEFA to work together on initiatives to advance women’s football, focusing on fair employment conditions and minimum standards.

The two organisations will also collaborate on medical research, player education, and awareness campaigns addressing doping and discrimination.

Additional collaboration areas include strengthening stakeholder dialogue at both national and European levels, exploring joint commercial opportunities involving player data and intellectual property rights, and offering support to players who are out of contract.

FIFPRO President, David Terrier, was full of positive thoughts regarding this agreement.

"This agreement is a hugely positive milestone for professional players across Europe. With player representation now anchored at UEFA’s highest level, we are securing a stronger voice for players where it matters most,” he said via press release.

"Our ongoing dialogue with UEFA is already yielding positive results, and this MoU will only strengthen our ability to shape a framework that will advance player welfare and ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for football, where the needs and rights of players shall always be at the forefront, both on and off the pitch."

UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, is confident their relationship with FIFPRO will support the growth of football for all.

"This partnership represents a new era in our relationship with FIFPRO Europe. Players are at the heart of football, and their perspectives must shape the decisions taken,” he said via press release.

"By inviting them to join the UEFA Executive Committee, we are creating a more inclusive future for the game, one in which the topic of player welfare will be at the forefront. This is about making tangible strides to ensure football continues to grow for everyone."

You can view the MOU here.

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Football NSW's Women in Football Leadership Program conducted a 2-day face-to-face workshop at the Pullman Sydney Olympic Park. Twenty-three curated female participants from football organisations across NSW attended the workshop. This is part of a larger 5-week leadership program that has developed over 100 female participants.

The program consisted of mixed training through In-person workshops, self-guided electronic learning and online webinars. Topics consisted of sports governance, conflict management, personality types and team dynamics.

Monarch Management and Monica Beazley facilitated the program; Beazley spoke on the importance and necessity for the workshop,

"When like-minded women come together, they create a network of support, rich in life experience and inspiration that can drive real change."

The aims and aspirations of the program coincide with developing skills and growth, instilling confidence in women to pursue leadership roles and building networking opportunities for female support within the football industry. The program emphasises immediate skill growth and long-term leadership development.

The Football NSW's Women in Football Leadership Program started in 2023 and the networking aspect of the program has remained key for the participants in sustaining successful partnerships and connections within the male-dominated industry.

“As the facilitator of the Football NSW Women in Football Leadership Conference, I witnessed first-hand how these connections ignite growth and encourage us all to push forward. The greatest takeaway for me was realising just how many talented women are already shaping this sport," said Beazley.

Participants for the 2-day workshop were selected from governing bodies, football associations, NPL NSW clubs and referee branches.

Beazley noted the importance of female equality in leadership positions, "much work still lies ahead to ensure they feel equal, valued and truly at home in their clubs as leaders and change-makers."

The entire 5-week program is funded by the NSW Football Legacy Fund and the NSW Government. Commitment to a 2025 renewal of the program shows institutional support to achieve women in leadership positions around football.

The program highlights an effort to increase women's leadership and presence in football. The growing momentum of this program will continue and foster a positive culture for football.

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Under UEFA’s latest football strategy, Unstoppable, the association will invest $1.6 billion into Women’s football until 2030.

Developed with the backing of key football figures and organisations, Unstoppable aims to bolster and upgrade footballing pathways for girls and women, to improve the quality of future players and referees and increase fan participation.

From 2024 to 2030, UEFA investments and competition profits will be directed into senior and youth national team competitions, club competitions, clubs, associations and developmental activities.

The Unstoppable strategy has four goals for 2030:

• To establish football as the most played women’s sport across Europe.
• To establish Europe as football’s home of the best players and competitions, aiming for six professional leagues and 5000 professional players.
• To ensure football is the most sustainable and investment friendly women’s sport.
• To celebrate the unique, diverse and important values and community of women’s football.

UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin, was enthusiastic about Unstoppable.

“Unstoppable is our road map to lay the groundwork for a sustainable future, unlocking the full potential of women’s football," he said via press release.

“Our dedication to the cause remains as strong as ever. Our mission is simple – to help women’s football gain a prominent place in the European sporting community.”

UEFA managing director of women’s football, Nadine Kessler, said Unstoppable was an important step forward to boost the growth of female football.

“European women’s football has never been in a better place. National teams and clubs are excelling thanks to enormous investments, improved competition structures and thousands of emerging professional playing opportunities," she said.

"It is our promise to keep investing and collectively lead the game forward, with all European national associations, leagues, clubs, players, fans and partners part of our journey – because women’s football is Unstoppable.”

Unstoppable will build upon UEFA’s first women’s football strategy, Time for Action, that was launched in 2019.

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Northern NSW Football is thrilled to introduce a new department focused on Women & Girls and Participation.

NNSWF has restructured part of its operations to retain existing talent within the organisation, following the NSW Football Legacy Program's completion and successful funding secured through the Play Our Way program.

NNSWF General Manager of Women & Girls and Participation, Allana Neeve, is optimistic about the future of football in the region.

“I believe that this is an exciting new chapter for us all and I am confident that this new department will significantly benefit the football family. We are in the best position to deliver on our goals and support the game in every corner of northern NSW,” she said via press release.

“This is fully aligned with the 2024-26 Strategic Plan to help increase participation across all member zones.

“I am thrilled to announce that Helen Mosely, Natalie Boyd and Micheal Hugo will all continue on with us in new roles. They have each been strong performers with skills and passion for the game and are vital to NNSWF’s future success. I could not be happier to see them remain as part of our organisation.”

• Women & Girls and Participation Officer: Helen Mosely

Helen will provide dedicated support to regional member zones and clubs, ensuring NNSWF remains visible and accessible to its football community.

She will collaborate closely with Football Far North Coast, Football Mid North Coast, North Coast Football, and NNSWF - Northern Inland to promote participation initiatives, particularly for women, girls, and underrepresented groups across these regions.

• Women & Girls and Inclusion Officer: Natalie Boyd

Natalie will assist Hunter region member zones in promoting participation and inclusion initiatives, especially for women and girls.

She will also enhance community engagement with the Newcastle Jets.

• Participation Officer - Schools & First Nations: Micheal Hugo

Micheal will seek opportunities to increase participation and engage First Nations communities in football, overseeing key programs such as the NAIDOC Cup and First Nations Scholarships, while also leading and coordinating NNSWF’s First Nations Advisory Group.

He will also concentrate on leading the National Schools Program, which NNSWF will implement starting in 2025 as Football Australia hands the program back to member federations.

The Women & Girls and Participation department will align with NNSWF's 2024-26 Strategic Plan, focusing on expanding participation and supporting local football.

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Football Australia has officially announced the launch of the National Second Tier (NST) competition, a key milestone in its commitment to advancing domestic club football in Australia.

Following extensive workshops and consultations with the eight NST Foundation Clubs, Football Australia confirmed the NST will kick off in October 2025, highlighting the best in Australian club football through a modern and sustainable competition model.

Key Aspects of the 2025 NST Competition:

Commitment to Play: Football Australia, the NST Foundation Clubs, and stakeholders are committed to launching the NST in 2025, aligning with the strategic goal of connecting Australia's football pyramid and elevating iconic clubs to a national level.

Competition Structure: The NST will feature 16 teams, starting with group-stage matches and culminating in an elimination Finals Series. This structure is designed to balance sustainability with competitive integrity and commercial appeal.

Team Composition: The eight NST Foundation Clubs will gain automatic entry and be joined by eight invitational clubs, selected from the Member Federation NPL State Premiers, forming a truly national competition.

Season Timeline: The NST season will run annually from October to December, featuring nine match day rounds and concluding with a Championship Final in early December. This timeline aligns with the Domestic Match Calendar, ensuring optimal scheduling for players, fans, and stakeholders.

Brand Launch: Football Australia will unveil the competition’s official name, brand identity, marketing materials, and trophy design in the coming months, setting the stage for a memorable inaugural season.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson shared his excitement about the NST: “The introduction of the National Second Tier is a landmark moment for football in Australia. Following productive discussions with our eight Foundation Clubs and consultation with other stakeholders, we are committed to creating a competition that not only elevates our game but also enriches the football community at all levels. The National Second Tier will provide a new platform for iconic clubs to showcase their talent and connect with fans nationwide.”

Football Australia will continue collaborating with NST Foundation Clubs, Member Federations, and stakeholders to finalise the operational details for the competition.

Over the past year, Football Australia has conducted two detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) processes to select NST clubs. With advisory support from BDO, 14 clubs across six states and territories have met the technical requirements for the NST RFP process.

Of these 14 clubs, six did not meet the financial requirements for a standalone NST home-and-away league before the June 2024 deadline. Football Australia will monitor these clubs as they strengthen their proposals.

[caption id="attachment_27072" align="alignnone" width="565"] Marconi Stallions announced as a founding club of the National Second Tier.[/caption]

Additionally, Football Australia will initiate a third NST RFP selection process, extending eligibility to clubs outside the initial Expression of Interest and focusing on underrepresented regions to identify additional foundation clubs.

The eight clubs announced in November 2023—APIA Leichhardt FC, Avondale FC, Marconi Stallions FC, Preston Lions FC, South Melbourne FC, Sydney Olympic FC, Sydney United 58 FC, and Wollongong Wolves FC—remain central to the NST’s future and will continue as foundation members.

The six additional clubs that have met the NST RFP technical criteria are Adelaide City FC, Caroline Springs-George Cross FC, Gold Coast United FC, Gungahlin United FC, South Hobart FC, and Sunshine Coast FC.

Further updates will be provided as the NST evolves, with a standalone NST home-and-away league remaining a key strategic goal once minimum requirements are met.

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Northern NSW Football has expressed excitement having confirmed a formal collaboration with the Newcastle Jets.

This partnership highlights NNSWF’s dedication to supporting the Newcastle Jets, the region’s sole professional A-Leagues club, with a strong focus on the Jets Academy and access to the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.

NNSWF will support the Newcastle Jets Academy by featuring prominently on the Academy’s playing and training kits and by providing ongoing access to top-tier football facilities at LMRFF for training sessions and matches.

NNSWF will be represented at the Jets’ men’s and women’s A-League home games through match day sponsorship, advertising signage, and sponsorship of two NNSWF and Jets Academy players, Ben Van Dorssen and Claire Adams, who are involved in the senior squads.

The partnership will enable NNSWF to offer the football community access to the club, including Newcastle Jets players and match days through events held at home games. This includes opportunities for clubs to take part in halftime hero and mascot activities.

Northern NSW Football CEO Peter Haynes was excited to reveal the significant partnership.

“It’s an exciting new era for the Newcastle Jets with Maverick Sports Group becoming the club’s owners which makes this the perfect time for Northern NSW Football to formally partner with the club,” he said via press release.

“We acknowledge our responsibility to support the talented player pathway and help the club identify and develop local talent. We want to see more local talent like Will Dobson and Emma Dundas working their way through the pathway into playing professionally.

“This partnership highlights Northern NSW Football’s commitment to do everything within our power to help the Newcastle Jets be a successful and sustainable club on and off the pitch.”

Newcastle Jets Executive Director, Maurice Bisetto, shared similar sentiments.

“Northern NSW Football and the Newcastle Jets is the quintessential perfect partnership,” he said via press release.

“As the peak body for football in the region, NNSWF are uniquely qualified to collaborate with the Jets as we both have an accountability for the development of male and female footballers.

“We are both passionate about football and footballers in the region and the closer we work together, the higher the likelihood of developing the next Socceroo or Matilda from the region.

“We look forward to strengthening and growing our relationship with NNSWF into the future.”

NNSWF has also joined the Newcastle Jets affiliate membership program, allowing the football community throughout the region to buy memberships, with a portion of the fees supporting NNSWF’s pathway and development initiatives.

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The A-League season kicked off last weekend with a rise in viewership watching the penultimate 20th anniversary.

The biggest increase was the Sydney Derby where the number of viewers on 10 Play became the most-viewed regular season fixture in the league's history with a 46% increase from the same match last season as recorded by The 10 Network.

A couple of factors can be associated with this result. Importantly, it was the first game of the season, building on the start-of-the-season excitement.

The Sydney Derby has been one of the most watched and attended fixture in the A-league since the addition of the Western Sydney Wanderers in the 2012/2013 season.

Last season, it was only beaten in attendance and viewership by the top-of-the-table clash of Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory which recorded 33,000 attendees.

However, this isn’t just a sudden rising trend but has been growing from season-to-season. The 2023-2024 season recorded the largest amount of viewership in the league's history with 53 per cent on Paramount+ and 33 percent on 10 Play, while free-to-air TV saw a 16 percent rise on Network 10.

The 2023/24 Final Series had a sell-out attendance every game and The Grand Final averaged 316,000 on 10 and 10 Play (29,000), with a reach of 731,000.

In total, the Grand Final had a reach of around 1.17 million, making it the most-watched finals series since the 2009-2010 finals.

The overall viewership for both the A-League Men’s and Women’s 2023/24 seasons reached 5.72 million Australians across all modes of media.

A key part of last season's success was the increase in viewership of the Women's Liberty League (now the Ninja Women’s A-League). The biggest stat was the 611% increase in club memberships. A big part of the increase in support is credited to the rise of support in women's football following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Another point to argue is the arrival of high-profile players in the league with West Sydney Wanderers’ new marquee signing ex-Manchester United and Chelsea player Juan Mata and Sydney FC’s ex-Juventus and Brazil International Douglas Costa. These players' arrival to the league has gained massive interest from the reflective teams and the league as a whole.

Their debuts in a Sydney Derby pitted against each other was an event that would, of course, gain huge traction and kick off the league with some big ratings. It's still up in the air whether their star status and hopeful exciting impact can maintain viewership throughout the season.

This A-League Season has also introduced a new club with Auckland FC. Their first home game of the season vs Brisbane Roar held 24,400 spectators only a couple thousand shy from the WSW spectators at the derby.

The inclusion of a new team representing New Zealand's most populated area is a promising move towards more A-League spectators from NZ and increasing the overall number of viewers.

From all six A-league games of the first round, the number of spectators from last season (not counting Auckland FC) went up 53%.

Now this is the beginning of the season, and a true measure of success can only be recorded at the end of the season.

To add to this, other than the top 3 most attended games, the rest of the league recorded similar if not more negative results for the first-round attendance and presented a huge gap between the top three watched games and the lower three.

Though with the goal of a year-on-year rise in fan engagement, the success of last season and the obvious steps taken by the clubs and the leagues to further enrich the league (marquee signings, an added NZ derby and more investment) one can be confident that the Isuzu A-league and Ninja Women’s A -League are promising another record-breaking season for the game.

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Over 100 professional women’s football players, including five Australians, have signed an open letter urging FIFA to drop its major sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco, a state-owned oil conglomerate.

In the letter published on Monday, 106 players from 24 countries called on FIFA to reconsider its partnership with Aramco, citing concerns over human rights violations, the oil giant is 98.5% owned by Saudi Arabia.

Among the signatories are Matildas stars Aivi Luik and Alex Chidiac, alongside Australian players Isobel Dalton (Perth Glory), Emma Ilijoski (Canberra United), and Winonah Heatley (Nordsjaelland).

The letter highlights how LGBTQ+ players are being asked to promote a company from a country where same-sex relationships are criminalised and also expresses concerns about the oil giant’s role in contributing to climate change.

FIFA signed a four year worldwide partnership deal with Saudi Aramco back in April, which includes rights across multiple major tournaments, including the World Cup 2026 and the Women's World Cup 2027. It's also expected that Saudi Arabia will win the bid for the 2034 Men's World Cup, signalling no real change in FIFA's morals.

The letter highlights multiple human rights violations against women, including fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi sentenced to 11 years in prison under 'anti-terror' laws for promoting female empowerment on social media, the week after the partnership between FIFA and Aramco was confirmed.

The letter also asks FIFA three important questions:

1. How can FIFA justify this sponsorship given the human rights violations committed by the Saudi authorities?
2. How can FIFA defend this sponsorship given Saudi Aramco's significant responsibility for the climate crisis?
3. What is FIFA's response to our proposal of the establishment of a review committee with player representation?

However, FIFA have spoken to ABC Sport about this issue where they mentioned the deal was unlikely to be removed despite these recent events.

"FIFA is an inclusive organisation with many commercial partners also supporting other organisations in football and other sports," the organisation said in a statement to ABC Sport.

"Sponsorship revenues generated by FIFA are reinvested back into the game at all levels and investment in women's football continues to increase, including for the historic FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and its groundbreaking new distribution model.

"As well as the increased support for teams at the tournament last year, FIFA's updated Women's Football Strategy for 2023-2027 further highlights how commercial revenues are reinvested back into the development of the women's game. FIFA's financial figures are also published annually."

This bold stand by the 106 players represents one of the most significant pushbacks women’s football has seen against a major sponsor. It's inspiring to witness how outspoken these athletes have been, despite the powerful influence of such a controversial partner.

Women’s football, which has long faced neglect and inadequate playing conditions, has steadily improved as the game has grown, but it’s clear these players are not just content with progress—they’re pushing for greater accountability.

The sponsorship with Aramco, in light of its links to human rights abuses and its environmental impact, feels like a direct affront to the principles these athletes uphold.

Whilst FIFA currently remain quite hesitant to change this fact, there is momentum growing behind this movement and it's the only way change will be brought to the game.

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In the last fortnight, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) released their annual A-League Women’s report, providing an overview of the current state of the women’s game at the highest level in Australia.

Throughout the document the PFA pinpointed their key recommendation, make the A-League Women’s (ALW) competition a full-time professional league.

The association had previously earmarked this as their number one priority in the year prior, but have now doubled down – setting a timeline for implementation by the 2026-2027 season.

The timeframe has come from extensive feedback from stakeholders within the game, with the vast majority of players agreeing that action on this front must come sooner rather than later.

The report outlined in detail the difficulties players are having with the current part-time nature of the league - with most players not on 12-month contracts, minimum wages set at $25,000 and club salary caps sitting at $600,000 per season.

The representative body also highlighted the threat to the competition based on significant progress of other women’s sporting leagues here in Australia and more importantly overseas women’s football leagues.

“The global growth of women’s football presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the A-League Women,” PFA Co-Chief Executive Kate Gill stated.

“Our players recognise that the league must embrace full-time professionalism by 2026 to remain competitive on the global stage.

“Our league and club leaders must unite behind a new vision that drives professionalism, commercial growth, and investment.”

Competitions such as the UK Women’s Super League (WSL) and the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have continued to build their presence in the global landscape.

The WSL has had a 700% increase in attendances, since establishing themselves as a full- time professional league in 2018.

The NWSL has recently increased its salary cap by 40% to $4.1 million for the 2024 season, after securing a significant broadcast deal worth 40 times more than their previous one.

Alongside this, a new American professional league, the United Soccer League’s Super League (USLS) launched in August of this year – with plans underway to continue to expand the competition.

These developments will continue to affect the ALW’s ability to not only retain but also attract talent to the Australian competition, as player salaries and conditions continue to rise in overseas leagues.

Of the 106 foreign player transfers into the ALW since 2018, 63 were Americans. 46% of the imported players (across all nationalities) came directly from the NWSL. With professionalism and club standards continuing to reach greater heights in competitions in America, for example, the ALW may continue to fall behind and not be an attractive proposition for foreign players coming into our competition, but also for players already competing in the ALW.

According to 2023-2024 end of season surveys conducted by the association, ALW players have now rated the NWSL as the second most preferred league to play in, behind the WSL in the UK.

In the previous year, 56% of ALW players put the ALW ahead of the NWSL on their respective lists, but a year later only 41% of players did the same.

It’s a clear sign that these leagues overseas are offering superior opportunities for players, which the ALW needs to try to combat and minimise this impact immediately.

With full time professionalism in the Australian competition set as a clear goal by the PFA, the commercial viability of the league will be at the forefront of any discussions around this.

The ALW did increase their crowds organically in the past season by 72 percent (on the back of a Women’s World Cup on home soil) however the PFA believes there were still strategic missteps that could have led to even further growth.

Based on fan focus groups setup by the organisation, newly converted Matildas fans were ignorant to details about ALW teams and schedules – due to a lack of promotion to spectators who attended international matches.

With the Women’s Asian Cup also to be played in Australia in two years’ time, the same mistakes cannot be made and capitalising on these home tournaments is paramount.

The 2026 Women’s Asian Cup is set to be an important part of the PFA’s proposed professional relaunch of the A-League women’s competition, using the major tournament to enhance the leagues visibility.

Alongside this, the report claims that an improvement of the ALW’s match presentation is needed - from consistent match day experiences, to appropriate venues for games and better broadcast standards.

All of these factors should, alongside overall improvements to club environments, lead to an attractive product that may eventually reap commercial rewards in the future.

The question is however, will the next step of initial investment towards a professional full-time A-League Women’s competition be taken?

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Football Victoria has presented the local clubs that have been successful in receiving the 2024 FV Club Development Grants.

This grant program was focused on applicants who wanted to foster a new positive sporting environment at clubs. This grant aims to help with infrastructure development, programs and plans that will enhance Female and community participation and inclusivity.

The application round had a huge amount of clubs eager to engage in the wider goals of upgrading the experience of the sport for all age groups and areas, including a great number of metropolitan and regional clubs.

The Club Development grants are part of the wider “Our Football" Strategic Plan, a re-energised campaign to encourage investment and support of the many grassroots clubs that maintain the largest amounts of participants in football.

For many grassroots clubs, grants are the main source of investment and these programs can completely change the environments at clubs and support the growing numbers of participants.

Below are the clubs that have been successful in the application.

For the success of football in Victoria and Australia as a whole, grants such as this are crucial and necessary. Sport always needs investment and for one of Victoria's most played sports the funding helps build the support for the game.

Not only do these grant-worthy recipients receive the investment needed to continue unlocking the rising potential of future players and Australia’s football culture, this funding will importantly also help maintain the strong sense of community and inclusivity these clubs bring to the average Australian.

The Club Development Grants are a positive step for grassroots sport in Australia and one can hope a success story that can be built upon in the future.

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The Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) has unveiled a new collaboration with the leading online management platform revolutioniseSPORT (revSPORT) to enhance fundraising options and simplify operations for grassroots organisations.

This collaboration enables clubs using revSPORT to effortlessly receive tax-deductible donations from members during the registration process, thanks to the introduction of the membership donation add-on.

The ASF and revSPORT membership donation add-on provides significant benefits to sports clubs by offering new revenue opportunities through tax-deductible donations integrated into the registration process.

This streamlined approach allows clubs to easily secure vital funding to cover expenses such as equipment and facilities.

Automating donation management through the membership donation add-on minimises administrative work, freeing up volunteers to concentrate on improving the overall sporting experience.

Starting in December, ASF's fundraising platform will be fully integrated with revolutioniseSPORT’s comprehensive sports management system, allowing members to handle operational data like schedules, payments, and registrations through a single, user-friendly interface.

With an API (Application Programming Interface) integration, ASF and revolutioniseSPORT will join forces to simplify the fundraising process, providing a critical financial boost during tough economic times.

The upgraded tools and resources will enable year-round fundraising, enhance communication and engagement, and leverage technology to reduce the administrative load on community clubs and associations.

ASF's CEO, Sue Hunt AM, explained how this deal will benefit the sports industry.

“As part of our commitment to supporting grassroots sports, the Australian Sports Foundation is excited to announce this collaboration with revSPORT, one that will provide the tools to grow and sustain funding at a critical time for our sports industry,” she said via press release.

“Our investment in technology is a cornerstone of our mission to support Australian sport, and this partnership with revSPORT is a perfect example of how we’re expanding our capabilities for the benefit of our sporting community. By harnessing innovative digital solutions, we can offer streamlined, accessible fundraising opportunities that empower sports organisations, especially at the grassroots level.

“These advancements are making it easier for clubs and teams across the country to secure the funding they need, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: enhancing the participant experience, supporting volunteers, and fostering a thriving sports culture.”

Chief Operations Officer of revSPORT, Nic Watkins, encouraged the 18,000 local clubs and 270 governing bodies currently using the platform to take advantage of the benefits offered by the ASF partnership.

“Australian sports clubs have been in desperate need of a revolutionary solution to funding and fundraising. Coming from club-land ourselves, we understand this challenge all too well – they are under-resourced and underfunded. That is why we built revSPORT, to simplify sport and maximise the impact of grassroots administrators,” he said via press release.

“Our exclusive partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation has the power to change the face of our industry. By providing an innovative solution centred on an exceptional user experience, sporting clubs using revSPORT will be able to leverage the capabilities of our two organisations, and unlock previously untapped revenue opportunities.”

To view more information about the Australian Sports Foundation, click here.

To know more about revolutioniseSPORT, click here.

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Launched to mark the International Day of the Girl and aligned with its theme, "Girls’ vision for the future," the five-part "Talia takes on... Play Unstoppable Mentorship" series expands on LEGO’s "PLAY UNSTOPPABLE" campaign, highlighting the endless opportunities for girls when they can play freely.

This digital series, created by the award-winning production company Visual Domain, highlights opportunities for girls in Australian football, narrated through the voice and perspective of 15-year-old Talia Younis, a midfielder for the CommBank Junior Matildas and Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

Released over 15 days, each episode follows Talia as she engages with and receives mentorship from women in various roles within football, including:

• Administration – featuring Alyssar Narey, the only female CEO in the A-Leagues.
• Medical – with insight from CommBank Junior Matildas' physiotherapist, Dr. Stella Veith.
• Media – in partnership with sports and lifestyle photographer Kelsey Zafiridis.
• Coaching – alongside Zainab Jaber, head coach for community girls' football.
• Refereeing – mentored by Football NSW community referee Chloe Gray.

Each mentor shares her personal journey, offering Talia and the audience a deeper understanding of her career path and unique role within the game.

Girls are given the resources to begin their own football journey through online materials available on the OUR GAME website and social media, along with the chance for schools to host visits from the OUR GAME mentors for in-school sessions.

Talia Younis shared that the Play Unstoppable Mentorship provided valuable insight into the work of thousands of women who contribute to football each week, while also exploring her own journey beyond the field.

“As a player, you don’t always get the chance to see first-hand the incredible work so many people do that allows us to play the game we love,” she said via press release.

“Alyssar, Stella, Kelsey, Zainab and Chloe have shown me that there are so many more ways that I can be part of football beyond the pitch.

“From my experience during this Play Unstoppable Mentorship, I want girls to know that anything is possible for us in football. That we can be whatever we want to be with so many strong women leading the way as they make football better every day for girls like me.”

Although the number of women and girls playing football in Australia increased by 20% over the past year, women continue to lag behind in off-field roles within the sports industry, both in Australia and worldwide.

Justine McKenny, Senior Director and Head of Marketing for LEGO Australia and NZ, stated that highlighting these off-field roles is essential for empowering girls and expanding their vision for the future.

"The LEGO Group has been dedicated to inspiring and developing the builders of tomorrow through play for over 90 years and we know that the skills developed through LEGO play are equally relevant to all children,” she said via press release.

“We're excited to partner with Football Australia to help champion and stand up for girls’ creativity. Through the new OUR GAME content series, we hope to inspire and empower girls to explore the transformative impact of their creativity both on and off field.”

It will be widely promoted through digital channels and PR, utilising the strength of the women's sports fanbase. The series will be available on Football Australia’s Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X accounts, with the first episode launching on October 11 and the final episode airing on October 25, 2024.

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Viewership for Women’s Super League (WSL) matches streamed live on YouTube has more than trebled during the 2024/25 season.

This success is no coincidence. Beyond the clear rise in quality and star power across teams for the 2024/25 season, it’s also the first time in league history that non-televised games are streamed for free on YouTube.

Last season, the main issue with viewership was accessibility, where matches not picked up by domestic broadcasters were only available on the FA Player app or website, requiring users to create an account on a platform that was already unpopular.

In the 2023/24 season, the highest viewership for an online-only WSL game was Arsenal's home fixture against Bristol City, which attracted 78,050 viewers.

However, this season has already shattered records. Over 250,000 fans tuned in on YouTube to watch Leicester face Arsenal in September, setting a new high for a WSL game not televised.

In total, the first three weeks of this season have seen a staggering 1,576,848 live views for WSL matches streamed on YouTube.

Women’s Championship matches have also benefited from the platform, with the season opener between newly promoted Newcastle and London City Lionesses setting a new record for the league, drawing 46,050 live viewers.

This spike in viewership comes at a crucial time for both the WSL and the Championship, as they are holding out for a new broadcasting rights deal set to begin after 2025. Both leagues smartly delayed signing earlier this year to avoid locking into a premature agreement.

The gamble absolutely paid off and the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), now in charge of the top two leagues, will be using these numbers as leverage in discussions over the next major TV rights deal which should include the BBC and Sky Sports amongst other suitors.

Streaming must remain free for A-League Women's growth 

The A-League Women's impressively saw a 114% increase in viewership on 10 Play, where every game is streamed for free, and 125% on Paramount+ for the 2023/24 season.

While a switch to YouTube seems unlikely given Channel 10's monopoly over A-League football, it’s crucial to keep every game available for free on 10 Play if they want viewership to continue rising.

As the WSL and previously the NWSL have demonstrated, offering free streamed games draws in viewers of all ages and ultimately helps turn them into paying fans. The league's primary focus should be on building an audience as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

The impressive figures from this season suggest that the demand for women’s football is only increasing.

The WSL has made a brilliant move that is sure to enhance the upcoming record-breaking broadcast rights deal, helping the league continue to improve both on and off the field.

The next step is to take it mainstream, and the Ninja A-League should look to follow the blueprint set by the WSL, which has demonstrated how to rapidly gain widespread popularity.

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In a major win for women's football growth in NSW, a $654,000 grant from the Federal Government has been awarded to support the 'Play Our Way' initiative for women and girls.

Football NSW's 'Empower Her' project, focused on leadership, education, and inclusion for women in football, was among 120 grants awarded as part of the Federal Government's $55 million scheme.

The grant will focus on three key areas—leadership, education, and inclusion—to attract, retain, and develop women in football. It will also support intersectional communities through initiatives like the NAIDOC Cup for First Nations youth and community sustainability efforts for priority groups via Football4All and the State Parafootball team.

Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas, mentioned the crucial role that the funding will have for Football NSW.

“The generous funding from the Federal Government will play a pivotal role in supporting Football NSW’s mission to expand and elevate female participation in football across the state, ensuring that more women and girls can thrive in the sport at every level,” he said via press release.

“Female football continues to soar following the incredible success of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.

“Over the past 12 months, female participation has surged by an impressive 23%, reflecting the growing enthusiasm and opportunities for women and girls in the sport.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Federal Government for their invaluable support. This funding will help us grow and create more opportunities for women and girls to participate in all facets of football across NSW."

Sport Minister, Anika Wells, added her comments about the Play Our Way initiative.

“Play Our way is the single biggest package for women’s sport participation and facilities ever and these 120 projects will create greater opportunities for women and girls to enjoy being physically active,” she said via press release.

“The huge response to this grant opportunity, and the range of great project ideas, show that Australian communities want to be more supportive of women and girls."

The grants are part of the participation stream, the first funding confirmed under the Albanese Government's $200 million Play Our Way program.

A second phase of the Play Our Way program, focused on facility grants, will be confirmed soon.

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Western Sydney Wanderers FC have confirmed that Herbalife will elevate their partnership with the club by becoming the front-of-shirt sponsor for the Ninja A-League Women’s team in the 2025/26 season.

Herbalife, a proud partner of the Wanderers since 2014, will continue as the club's official nutrition partner.

They will support both the men's and women's teams with nutrition products for pre-, during-, and post-match routines, as well as providing educational sessions on maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.

For the 2024/25 season, Herbalife has increased its backing of the Wanderers Women’s team and will now be featured on the front of their home, away, and third jerseys.

Herbalife are a global health and wellness community that offers their science-backed products, wellness resources such as helpful articles and recipes, and even have a service which offers the opportunity to build a business. For over 40 years and in more than 90 countries, Herbalife have been committed to empowering and changing the lives of millions of people.

Western Sydney Wanderers CEO, Scott Hudson spoke about Herbalife’s incredible loyalty and support of the club.

“Herbalife have been proud partners of the club for the last 10 years and we are delighted that they are taking a whole of club approach to their partnership,” said Hudson in a club statement.

“Peter and his team have had a very positive impact on our club through their emphasis on nutrition and a healthy active lifestyle so we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Peter Hurley, General Manager and Director of Herbalife Australia and New Zealand, discussed their commitment to the women's team for the upcoming season.

“Our decade-long partnership with the entire Western Sydney Wanderers club has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said Hurley in a statement.

“Seeing the Herbalife logo on the front of the Wanderers Women’s jersey not only highlights our commitment to the women’s team but reinforces our strong bond with the whole club.

“We’re proud to stand beside the Wanderers family and look forward to fuelling their success for the upcoming season!”

In January earlier this year, Herbalife extended with the Wanderers for three more years but this time with a focus on increasing their support to the club’s women’s programs. This front-of-shirt sponsorship is a major step forward in the right direction for both parties' goals.

With a strong social media presence and great young talent, the Wanderers are becoming one of the most exciting teams in the A-League Women's competition, and this deal elevates their corporate side, securing a great shirt sponsor and funds.

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Ausenco has renewed its commitment to the Brisbane Roar, signing on as Platinum Partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the Ninja A-League team for a fourth consecutive season.

Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting and project management company that was founded in 1991 with its main headquarters in the Brisbane CBD area, close to the club. They have grown and expanded internationally, now operating 26 offices in 15 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide.

In addition to backing women's football and Brisbane Roar’s Ninja A-League side, Ausenco will also support players' personal and professional growth beyond the field.

The partnership will see the company continue offering workshops focused on teamwork, leadership, and foundational business skills as part of its ongoing sponsorship.

Ausenco CEO Zimi Meka spoke on their ambition to develop women's football and create an empowering culture.

“It’s been fantastic to see the growth of women’s football globally over the last few years, particularly after the World Cup," Meka said via press release.

"We’re excited to be part of the continued development of women’s football and creating a culture where women are equally empowered to excel.

“We look forward to working with Brisbane Roar to not only help their athletes achieve their ambitions on the field but look beyond their sporting careers with personal and professional development.”

Brisbane Roar Chairman & CEO Kaz Patafta expressed his excitement at continuing the partnership with a strong, global brand like Ausenco to support the club and women’s football in Queensland.

“We’re pleased to continue our relationship with Ausenco, a brand that closely aligns with the club’s desire to grow women and girls’ participation from grassroots level through to the professional level in Queensland," Patafta said via press release.

“It’s a great time to highlight Ausenco’s support of women’s football. Not only supporting the club but the players as individuals is greatly appreciated by the club.”

This partnership is one of the longest running for Brisbane’s women’s teams, highlighting the club’s commitment to player development. The focus on off-the-pitch growth aligns with the Roar’s broader strategy, which extends to their junior and men's squads.

This deal spells great news for the women's team ahead of a landmark 2024/25 campaign.

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Football Victoria has confirmed an agreement with Vinage Customs to be the creators of the signage for The Home of the Matilda's facility.

Established in 2013, Vinage Customs specialises in design, print and signage, this collaboration with Football Victoria will see innovative signage solutions implemented throughout the football facility.

Vinage Customs has worked with tier 1, 2 and 3 commercial builders and developers making a range of signage options. They have also produced signage for smaller businesses and interested parties.

Vinage’s Customs Director Adrian D'Altorio expressed his excitement at the deal.

"Vinage is proud to be a part of the FV family at The Home of the Matildas, offering our premium signage services and building a long-term business relationship," he said via press release.

The sentiment was echoed by FV's Commercial Executive Manager, Chris Speldewinde via press release. 

"We're thrilled to have Vinage Customs on board as the Preferred Signage Partner. Their expertise will add tremendous value to our venue, enhancing the visual experience for everyone involved."

Vinage Customs will receive exclusive brand promotion opportunities through FV while delivering its comprehensive signage solutions to the venue. This partnership aims to contribute to the ongoing development of The Home of the Matildas.

As a locally based company in Tullamarine, Melbourne, this partnership showcases FV’s focus on getting local businesses involved in all aspects of the footballing community.

It also indicates to interested local investors and businesses that FV is more than willing to be more engaged with and promote local growing businesses.

Not only is the Home of the Matildas a place to find and grow local footballing talent, but Football Victoria is also making the facility a place to discover and support local growing businesses and investors.

This is a positive move in connecting the local business community with the growing local talent in the footballing world.

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The Adelaide Jaguars are one of South Australia’s biggest female-only soccer clubs and have recently taken on a record high in player registrations following the inspiring Matildas World Cup campaign in 2023.

Despite being one of the biggest clubs in the SA women’s soccer space, the club are yet to find a permanent home. Access to shared council-leased pitches for training and games is dependent on season to season permits, and use of any available space is negotiated with multiple sports each year.

No storage space forces coaches to keep most of the equipment in their own cars for the season, and the absence of a function room makes it difficult for the community to meet, train volunteers, provide athlete education and so much more.

The Jaguars are one of many such stories across the country who require more funding just for basic necessities, while they also work to support a participation surge that they hope to take advantage of.

In a chat with SoccerScene, Club chairperson Bronny Brooks spoke about the incredible growth of the club, how the current grant system can improve for grassroots clubs and the importance of increased funding for women’s soccer following this surge in popularity.

Can you explain just how much the club has grown recently, particularly after the 2023 Women's World Cup?

Bronny Brooks: Our growth actually started prior to the World Cup. Over the past five years we have had a significant increase in all age groups (MiniRoos, Juniors and Senior community) and so the sport itself was on an upswing.

About four years ago we had about 70 players, this year we registered 320 and next year we will probably top over 350 registered players. The World Cup itself probably had an impact of around 30% and I would say we've gained between 100 and 120 players at the club for the 2024 season, following the World Cup.

[caption id="attachment_26728" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image credit: Adelaide Jaguars FC Facebook[/caption]

The most disappointing thing is that we probably turned away almost 100 players as we lacked the capacity to support the extra players. Limited resources including pitch space, coaches, lighting and many other challenges common in the football community make it difficult to support the growth. We unfortunately couldn't find a place for everyone and so yes, we increased, but we could've probably been a little bit bigger if we had those resources available to us.

The age groups we've probably seen the most growth in includes our Community Women’s program. Our women who are 25-30+ , either returning to football or new to football, just want to be a part of it socially and for fitness and enjoy connecting through a team sport. Then of course our little ones, our u7's for example we had 32 of them join this year which is like a whole class full of u7's!!

Community women and MiniRoos have been our biggest growth spots whilst juniors are fairly stable mostly because they were already involved in the sport.

Certainly, the support and the interest around those groups along with the spectatorship has all grown as well.

The ABC article suggested that within 12 months, the club would find a permanent home to help store the equipment and the new players. Is there any update on that situation?

Bronny Brooks: The biggest challenge for us is land and land consent. Our club is based in the western suburbs of Adelaide which is built out between the city and the sea, and there’s not a lot of land space available. We have had tremendous support from all levels of government around our community. They love what we do, they love the impact that we make but it's been really tricky to find space for us to build a home.

We currently operate out of an 8m by 2m converted council coffee room and we have 21 teams so most of our equipment is stored in people's cars. The club’s playing kit actually travelled in the back of my car for a whole season and coaches have all the balls and cones in their cars, so we're pretty desperate in terms of even just storage, let alone a new home to bring the community together and train those volunteers.

The government is aware of our challenges. We've had a local primary school approach us and offer space which would be a fantastic solution and outside of school hours -  but then the question becomes who would help with funding as it is not council land.

The popularity of the ABC article helped with discussing a solution. I have for the first time ever had local, state and federal government all talking in the same room which has been great, but no one has come up with an actual solution yet.

One of the biggest issues for us as a female sport, and other female sports would experience similar, is that in the years when those land parcels were handed out to footy and cricket clubs, the sports were male-dominated and female clubs didn’t really exist. As a female-only club with a 15 year history, we weren't around when they were handing out those land parcels and because of that, we need to play catch up somewhere along the line. We need to make it happen so there is some equity in the access to land that female sports have.

With all that in mind, unfortunately, finding a home within 12 months is probably a little bit idealistic at the moment.

[caption id="attachment_26729" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image credit: Adelaide Jaguars FC Facebook[/caption]

South Australian Government had the "Power of Her" grant program and it seems extremely competitive to earn a grant. What’s your opinion on how they could make that system easier for grassroots clubs?

Bronny Brooks: It's a very interesting topic. The 'Power of Her' is a fantastic initiative because we need to support clubs that are backing women and trying to provide equity to these grassroots clubs.

It's not only the opportunity to apply that’s important, but also how does the government follow up on the grants? What’s the accountability to make sure that the people receiving the grants are doing the right thing? Historically, what has happened is there are clubs that have only one or two girls’ teams but are majority boys’ teams, and they apply for funding to support their female teams. But the money never actually goes into the women's game. The funding continues to be immersed into the club as a whole or for equipment that is used by the boys’ teams. We have even known clubs to receive grant money for new female facilities, and then just a few years later they don’t even have a women’s program.

There is money available and there are certainly criteria that we all have to meet but it's also about meeting those criteria in three years or five years’ time. The question becomes what actually happens to that money?

The 'Power of Her' offered $10 million for soccer clubs and $8 million for other sports in the state. With current costs, our club would need $10 million just to build a facility of our own, and lots of other clubs need infrastructure as well, so there isn't really enough money to go around. Our club is never going to receive the whole amount, understandably, but the amounts available and the structure of the grant limit what you can do to improve the club. We were successful in receiving grant funds for programming and equipment, which is fantastic, but we missed out on finding a solution to a much bigger challenge - that is, securing a venue for a sustainable future.

[caption id="attachment_26727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image credit: Adelaide Jaguars FC Facebook[/caption]

Do you believe women's soccer is getting neglected for other sports by the government and should the revenue made by the Matildas be shared around fairer?

Broony Brooks: Yep, Jags is representative of the grassroots community and I do think there needs to be more support for that level of our sport. It’s so important to build from the bottom up.

Different sporting codes are structured differently, and I don't have accurate knowledge around how it is all structured through Football Australia or Football SA, but I do know that our fees are really high compared to many sports. We have to pay a lot upfront for our participants, and to cover costs, and there should be more funding support for community football.

You look at our football fees compared to Aussie Rules footy fees. AFL is a bottom up type of organisation and they have funding available for the lowest level. Football in Australia is top down funding - fees in general are just way too high and it makes it quite difficult for players to participate. There are some clubs that charge $1,500+ a season and it's a huge amount of money for a family. We're very careful as a community to make sure we never turn away anyone - if they need financial support, we will find a way for them to play.

However, there is only so much capacity for a club to do that. We do all the right things as a club, we work hard to secure sponsorship and fundraise, but there has to be a way where those players and clubs are supported financially. There are so many benefits to playing community sport - the social, mental and physical health impact is massive. What sport does long term for our community is so important, so there's a health investment the government should consider as well.

I think there should be ways of looking at funding from a long-term perspective, rather than immediate, and then drawing into those funds for having resources available for community clubs.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) have confirmed Matildas star Mary Fowler and New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen have been named the 2024 Austraffic PFA Young Footballers of the Year, as voted by their peers.

The pair were recognised by PFA members as standout performers from a competitive shortlist that included Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charlotte Grant, Kaitlyn Torpey, Nestory Irankunda, Jordan Bos, and Alessandro Circati.

This marks Fowler’s second time winning the award, while Paulsen becomes the third New Zealand international to claim the honour, following Marco Rojas and Liberato Cacace.

The award recognises the performances of players in the A-Leagues and Australian players abroad between June 2023 and June 2024, for those under 23 at the time.

Austraffic PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year: Mary Fowler

Fowler had an impressive season in the English Women’s Super League, scoring four goals and providing six assists as she helped Manchester City to a second-place finish, just behind champions Chelsea on goal difference.

Internationally, the 21-year-old shone for the Matildas, playing in six of their seven matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and playing a key role in the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she scored four goals in five Olympic qualifying matches.

Having previously won the award in 2022, Fowler joins Alex Chidiac (2017, 2018) and Ellie Carpenter (2020, 2021) as a two-time winner of the PFA Young Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Mary Fowler spoke on the award win and how much it means for her to be recognised by the PFA.

“It means a lot to me,” Fowler said.

“I think it’s one of the best awards I can receive because getting something from the players I play alongside, and play against, it means a lot to me to see that they think I’m doing well and give me that kind of recognition. I just feel super grateful for that.”

Austraffic PFA Young Men’s Footballer of the Year (PFA Harry Kewell Medal): Alex Paulsen

Alex Paulsen has been awarded the prestigious PFA Harry Kewell Medal following an impressive breakout season with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men.

The 22-year-old cemented his position as Wellington’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2023-24 pre-season and went on to play a key role in helping Giancarlo Italiano's team secure a spot in the finals with a series of outstanding performances between the posts.

Paulsen’s stellar form earned him multiple accolades, including A-League Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and the Fan Player of the Year award. He also shared the A-League Men’s Young Footballer of the Year title with Nestory Irankunda.

His impact throughout the season saw him selected for the 2023-24 PFA A-League Men Team of the Season, where he was named captain after receiving the highest number of votes from his peers.

Alex Paulsen spoke highly on his award win.

“I’m proud to receive such a prestigious award,” Paulsen said.

“Only two Kiwis have won this award (previously) so to be up in that bracket is amazing and I’m really proud of receiving such an accolade.

“It means more to be voted by my peers and my teammates. I feel very honoured to receive this award. Twelve months ago, I wasn’t really – with regards to Wellington Phoenix – in the picture to be considered the No.1, and to be given an opportunity by ‘Chiefy’ (Italiano) to be involved with the Wellington Phoenix and to be the No.1 was fantastic.”

At the conclusion of the terrific 2023/24 campaign, Paulsen signed with English Premier League club Bournemouth but returned to the A-League Men on loan to join new expansion team Auckland FC, the city where he was born and raised.

Paulsen becomes the third New Zealand player to win the Young Men’s Footballer of the Year, following Marco Rojas (2013) and Liberato Cacace (2020). He is also the third goalkeeper to receive the honour, joining Socceroos Mat Ryan (2012, 2014, 2015) and Mitch Langerak (2010).

Austraffic have been the sponsor for the PFA's Footballer of the Year Awards since 2009 and the traffic engineering and information technology specialists have been in business since 1983 undertaking thousands of traffic, transport and pedestrian studies in all states and territories of Australia and New Zealand.

The PFA will confirm the 2024 Austraffic Men’s and Women’s Footballers of the Year next week.

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The Organisation Support Program (OSP) provides two-year funding from 2024 to 2026 to eligible State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and State Sporting Organisations for People with Disabilities (SSODs) in NSW.

This program allocated up to 20 million dollars will give financial support for governance, participation growth, sporting activities, and competitions, especially for underrepresented groups in sports at all levels.

Funding of up to $20 million has been allocated for this program.

The Program is a closed, non-competitive grant program where applications are assessed individually against the assessment criteria by the Office of Sport.

Important dates

• Applications open – Wednesday 2 October 2024
• Applications close – 1 pm, Friday 29 November 2024
• Application outcome date – October 2024 onwards
• Timeframe for grant acceptance – Within 6 weeks of notification
• Project delivery timeframe –
  • For 2024/25 funded initiatives: 30 June 2025
  • For 2025/26 funded initiatives: 30 June 2026

The breakdown of Funding is done by categories from 1-6 which are based on the capacity of organisations to deliver services.

The following table shows the eligible funding by category:

Category            OSP Amount Available

1                                $195,000

2                                $180,000

3                                $120,000

4                                $80,000

5                                $50,000

The objective of the OSP is to develop sporting activities at all levels in NSW by assisting SSO/SSODs and Peak Bodies to:

• Strengthen sector capability to address trends, challenges and governance.
• Create inclusive environments and enhance participation, especially for under-represented groups.
• Support organisational operations and sports development pathways.

Applications must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be eligible.

This grant shows the NSW government are dedicated to delivering financial support to all sports of the state.

This program’s central goal of increased inclusion, especially with Female and People with Disability initiatives, showcases the wider call for more funding and support for under-represented groups in sport.

Recent reports express that wide numbers of under-represented participants are met with under-funded systems which are struggling with demand.

This grant opportunity is an effective way for Sports Organisations to take the next step in supporting sporting growth at all levels.

Read more here.

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Female football in regional Western Australia is set to receive a significant boost nearly $1 million investment from the Federal Government.

Football West has secured $997,339 through the Federal Government's Play Our Way program, aimed at breaking down barriers for women and girls in sports and physical activities.

The Australian Government is providing $200 million for the Play Our Way program and this set of funding is the first of many for state football federations.

The program will run over 3 years from 2024–25 to 2026–27 with the money spread out to help provide safe, inclusive, quality and sustainable facilities, equipment and initiatives as well as help women and girls to remain involved in sport and physical activity for life.

The grant will fund Football West's Our Game WA initiative, which focuses on two main components:

Leading Our Game: A new coaching course exclusively for women.

Growing Our Game: A series of initiatives designed to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women and girls in football.

Football West Manager - Female Football & Advocacy Tash Rigby expressed her excitement at the positive news for women's players in WA.

“This is incredible news and we can do so much good for female football with this kind of investment," she said via press release.

“Interest in female football right across the state is at an all-time high. We want to make it as easy as possible for women and girls to participate in our game and fulfil their potential, be it as players, coaches, match officials, and in any other capacity.

“It is extra special that the money will be invested in regional WA. Regional football is close to my heart –  I am from Margaret River and know the passion around the state for football.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell extended on Rigby's points by discussing the importance of this deal for regional women's football.

“We are delighted to have been successful in our application and thank the Australian Government for supporting our proposal," Harnwell said via press release.

“Our commitment to female football over the past decade is well documented and this grant will enable us to give more girls and women the opportunity to develop a love for the game.

“Regional football caters for around a quarter of our registrations and so it is great to invest funding of this kind across the State.

“We are currently hosting the 2024 Country Week carnival at Kingsway Reserve, which is our biggest celebration of regional football, so the timing of this announcement could not be better.”

This is fantastic news especially for regional football in general which is often neglected but remains one of the key factors in WA’s strong participation numbers in 2024.

Football West is creating a space that can help girls and women play in a safe, inclusive environment in an extremely inspiring time for women’s football in Australia.

More information on the Play Our Way Grant Opportunity can be found here.

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The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and La Trobe University have confirmed a partnership that will see the University open up an amazing opportunity for students to take part in a course regarding the development of women’s football domestically.

It will be awarded to an exceptional applicant with an interest in the development and success of female footballers in Australia.

Applicants should have a passion for skill development, women's sports, and a desire to understand the factors contributing to success in sports. The research will add value to the player members of Professional Footballers Australia.

PFA released a statement on social media about this offer:

"The unique PhD opportunity will focus on advancing the development and professionalisation of women's football in Australia and will be based near the Home of the Matildas."

Here are the details of the course: La Trobe Industry Research Scholarship (LTIRS): The Development and Professionalisation of Women's Football in Australia.

Scholarship Amount: $34,000 per annum, for three and a half years. Additional fee relief included.

Opening Date: 25/09/2024

Closing Date: 21/10/2024

Who is Eligible: Future PhD candidates, Australian citizens, International students, Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens.

Location: Melbourne Campus

Payment Method: Fortnightly stipend

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Meet the entrance requirements for the proposed PhD course.
• Not be receiving another scholarship worth more than 75% of the stipend rate for the same purpose.
• Have an academic background relevant to the project, such as sport science or performance psychology.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have experience working in professional or organised sports.
• Are familiar with relevant research methods, including qualitative approaches such as interviews, focus groups, and concept mapping.
• Will be enrolled full-time and conducting research at a La Trobe University campus.
• Have completed a Masters by Research or have a significant body of research, such as an honours research thesis or lead authorship of a peer-reviewed publication, assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above.

Important Notes:

• The supervisors for this project are A/Prof Clare MacMahon (LTU), Dr. Luke Wilkins (LTU), and Brett Taylor (PFA).
• Applicants must submit a 1-page cover letter outlining their interest and suitability for the project, along with a brief CV.
• A Working With Children Check is required before commencing the position (the applicant is responsible for the cost).

Selection Process:

• Applications will be reviewed carefully by the University.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with representatives from La Trobe University and Professional Footballers Australia.
• Final decisions will be based on the application and interview.
• Successful candidates will be notified in December 2024 with an offer for both candidature and scholarship.

Conclusion:

The PFA Matildas report released after the 2023 Women's World Cup suggested that the PFA were going to aggressively push for professionalisation in the Ninja A-League following damning numbers showing most of the league is required to work a second job whilst also committing themselves to almost 30 weeks a year of training and matches.

Every single Matildas player in that World Cup squad started their career at the A-League and the lack of funding and help has led the league to be so far behind its international counterparts, with almost all top Australian talents choosing to move abroad.

This PhD course is a big first step in understanding what steps are required to take the domestic women's first division to a suitable standard and will do so by involving more young, intelligent minds outside of the PFA to gain an outside perspective.

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Football Queensland has confirmed the FQ Academy Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Youth and Junior programs for 2025 will continue to evolve, focusing on enhancing the development of high-potential players and strengthening pathways to professional football by further aligning with Brisbane Roar FC.

As the 2024 season comes to a close, the FQ Academy QAS program celebrates a successful year, with several current and former players securing youth contracts and scholarships with Brisbane Roar and earning selections for the Junior and Young Matildas squads.

FQ Academy QAS is the elite football development program for women and girls in Queensland. Established in 1992, it provides a full time playing and training environment for female players aged U13 to U18 with established top coaches leading the way.

The FQ Academy QAS U18 side participate in the NPL Queensland Women’s competition, with players gaining valuable experience and development opportunities against Senior Women’s teams.

Providing a pathway to Liberty A-League sides including the Brisbane Roar, graduates of the FQ Academy QAS have also gone on to represent the country with national teams following their time in the NPL Women competition.

FQ General Manager – Football & State Technical Director Gabor Ganczer discussed this deal with Brisbane Roar and the future of the academy.

“Building on this season’s achievements, the structural adjustments to the FQ Academy QAS program for the 2025 season will further enhance both our Junior and Youth programs, with players benefitting from tailored development strategies aimed at preparing them for professional contracts and on-field success,” Ganczer said in a joint statement.

“Starting in 2025, the FQ Academy QAS program for Under 17-19s and up to Under 23s will shift towards aligning with Brisbane Roar’s professional environment and playing styles. This shift includes elevating the age band and providing playing and training opportunities and game time for FQ Academy QAS and Brisbane Roar contracted players in the NPL Women to support continued growth throughout the athlete categorisation period in line with long term player development principles.

“Football Queensland’s continued commitment to support high-potential player development through the FQ Academy’s strategic alignment with Brisbane Roar and the Queensland Academy of Sport will ensure a clear pathway for athletes over 18 to remain within the program whilst also playing up and experiencing the A-League with Brisbane Roar’s Women’s team during the regular season.

“In this new structure, current Brisbane Roar players will also be able to play back in the NPL Women, allowing Under 23-aged Roar squad members to return to the FQ Academy QAS for match fitness and injury recovery should they not be A-League tied."

Conclusion

This is a smart decision by both FQ and the Roar who aim to make the academy the best in Australia at developing women for the professional game.

It also allows more top young talent to potentially shine in the A-League Women's competition, a league that developed every Matilda that featured in the successful 2023 Women's World Cup.

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For the 2024/25 Premier League season, Liverpool FC have made sure to hit the ground running under new manager Arne Slot by teaming up with Husqvarna in an official groundskeeping partnership.

The multi-year global agreement was struck in July, where Husqvarna - a market leader in innovative and high-quality products and services for shaping green spaces in parks, forests and gardens - is with one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs in Liverpool FC.

By being the official groundskeeping partner of Liverpool FC, the Merseyside outfit will be treated to pristine playing conditions at training and gameday in a collaboration that is the first of its kind for both organisations.

Liverpool has already been using Husqvarna’s robotic mowers since 2021, maintaining high quality standards across the AXA Training Centre, and AXA Melwood Training Centre.

This partnership will see Husqvarna provide the very best state-of-the-art equipment and innovative solutions for the Ground Management team at Liverpool FC, to maintain elite playing surfaces and its upkeep for all men’s and women’s teams.

Yvette Henshall-Bell, President Europe, Forest & Garden Division at Husqvarna, has been one of the key people to orchestrate the deal.

From the conversations that were had between Husqvarna’s Head Office in Sweden and linking up with the team in the UK, it made a logical partnership become a reality.

“Through this partnership, Husqvarna’s state-of-the-art equipment and innovative solutions will be more deeply integrated into LFC’s groundskeeping teams’ daily routines and pitch upkeep, making it a key part of creating and maintaining optimal conditions for elite level playing and training,” Henshall-Bell told Soccerscene.

“In addition, with the collaboration, Husqvarna looks forward to learning from some of the best groundskeepers in the world – enhancing our offer even further.”

Liverpool FC fans attending home matches at Anfield are also given a glimpse of what they can expect to see when they host Brentford on Matchday 2 of the Premier League.

“LFC will help raise Husqvarna’s global profile through bespoke content and activations using its award-winning social platforms, which enjoy a combined global following of 186 million,” Spence said.

“Additionally, Husqvarna branding will also be featured on the digital LED boards during matches, reaching over 400 million TV viewers per season around the world, enhancing Husqvarna’s brand visibility and awareness on a truly global scale.”

[caption id="attachment_26400" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Yvette Henshall-Bell, President Europe, Forest & Garden Division at Husqvarna.[/caption]

As a global brand, Husqvarna products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. This includes Australia, where Liverpool FC have tapped into an International Academy in the country.

“As the partnership has only just been announced, we are currently scoping out what our local Australian activation looks like,” Vienna Spence, Marketing Manager for Husqvarna’s Brand Division Australia said.

Visit Husqvarna’s Australian-based website for the latest products and offers by clicking the link here.

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SharkNinja has been confirmed as the new multi-season naming rights partner for the Women’s A league, which will be called the Ninja A-league.

SharkNinja is a tech and design company that works on a global scale, they have produced famous household products including the Ninja blenders and Shark cordless vacuum ranges.

It will also, in conjunction with the Ninja A-league, become a major new partner of the Isuzu UTE A-League.

The A-league commissioner Nick Garcia has welcomed the added investment the partnership will have.

“SharkNinja joins the A-Leagues with aligned ambitions; to grow women’s football in Australia and New Zealand, increase the opportunities and pathways for players, and help make the game more visible and accessible for our fans. We can’t wait to see where we take the Ninja A-League Women,” Nick explained in an A-league media release.

One of the future initiatives the partnership has confirmed is a new junior pass for under 16s that will give free entry for the first few rounds of the Ninja A-league to increase stadium-going fans and the family-friendly environment of the games.

This strategy has worked in the A-league before and with the huge numbers of young girls going to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Women's A-league. This could be a necessary boost to increase the passionate youthful support that’s been crucial to the growth of Australian female football.

Furthermore, the agreement outlines media developments that will inject interest in the league including the continuation of the Dub Zone newspaper that details the weekly action of the league and in collaboration with the APL and Network Ten plan to increase the number of free-to-air games on 10 Bold for the 2024-25 season.

The number of games will increase from one to ten in a move to hopefully increase the Ninja A-league's viewership online.

Judy Darling, the VP Commercial of SharkNinja advocates for the company’s excitement at the new partnership.

“Our mission is to positively impact people’s lives every day in every home around the world. This is exactly what our incredible Australian and Kiwi female footballers do – having become such powerful role models for the young and old alike,” Judy explained in an A-league statement.

The A-league's need for investment means this is a welcomed announcement and could produce more cash flow for the A-league to continue developing Australian football both at the top level and down through the youth leagues.

Only time will tell if this partnership can deliver on its promises, for stakeholders and fans, however, this can be viewed as a step in the right direction.

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Following a distinguished coaching career that included reaching the heights of the Premier League, Scott Miller is now embracing the next chapter of his professional journey.

No stranger to Australian football, Miller was Head Coach of the Newcastle Jets Men’s team and as an assistant coach for the Socceroos leading up to the 2014 World Cup. With extensive international experience from his time at Fulham FC, where he witnessed everything coaching had to offer, Miller decided in 2023 that a new direction was needed.

Now, as the Chief Commercial Officer at iReel, a Gen AI sports technology company, Miller combines his passion for coaching and sports technology to deliver valuable solutions to sporting organisations. iReel's vision is to become the leading provider of Gen AI in sport, and Miller is at the forefront of this innovative journey.

In this interview with Soccerscene, Miller reflects on his 17 years in coaching, the lessons he’s learned from working overseas compared to Australia, how iReel presented itself as an opportunity, and why sports technology is essential in today’s sporting landscape.

You’ve had experience from the Premier League to the A-League. How has your journey been so far?

Scott Miller: My background originally stems from playing in the Victorian Premier League. I signed with former NSL team the Gippsland Falcons as a youth and came through their youth system, but I didn’t make a senior appearance due to a serious leg injury. This injury gave me clarity about the longevity of a career in sport as an athlete, which led me to pursue a degree in exercise science at ACU in Melbourne.

During that time, my interest in physical performance and its alignment with football grew. I took the initiative to make as many contacts overseas as possible, which was quite a challenge pre-LinkedIn, relying on handwritten letters. I was fortunate to have family in London, which allowed me to explore opportunities there. I landed a role at Fulham FC, starting in their academy system and eventually working with the first team. Within six months, I was offered a full-time contract with the Premier League team, marking the beginning of an exciting 10-year journey.

My time at Fulham was filled with learning opportunities, including earning my UEFA A license and a degree in sports psychology. I worked with top-level managers like Chris Coleman, Roy Hodgson, Mark Hughes, Martin Jol, René Meulensteen, and Felix Magath. These experiences helped shape my career, leading to a role as an assistant coach, where we achieved multiple top-10 finishes and reached the 2010 Europa League final against Atletico Madrid—a highlight of my time at Fulham.

Were you always looking to get into coaching, or did your injury force your hand?

Scott Miller: Coaching wasn’t my initial plan, but it became a natural evolution for me. Roy Hodgson, in particular, inspired me with his methodology and the impact he had on players. With my background in high performance, football knowledge, and a passion for psychology, I naturally transitioned into coaching. By the age of 27, I was delivering sessions to Premier League players, covering various aspects of training outside of tactics.

My journey into coaching continued when Ange Postecoglou invited me to join him as an assistant with the Socceroos, which was a fantastic experience. Later, he recommended me for the head coaching role at Newcastle Jets at just 33 years old. My time working with some of the best players and coaches in the Premier League was invaluable in shaping my approach to coaching.

What insights can you share from your experiences in the UK?

Scott Miller: Football culture in the UK is deeply ingrained—it's more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. The Premier League is a global phenomenon, vastly larger in scale than the A-League, with financial and commercial resources that drive innovation and performance.

Another key difference is the highly competitive environment. The standards are ruthless, and if you’re not up to par, you’re quickly replaced. This applies to everyone, from coaches to players and support staff. I experienced this firsthand, often finding myself as the cultural link between outgoing and incoming managers due to my role as a central figure in the club's operations.

The financial resources available in the Premier League also allow for greater opportunities for coaches to build sustainable careers. The remuneration packages are significantly different compared to the A-League, providing a stable foundation for those working in football.

You are now the Chief Commercial Officer at iReel. How did that transition come about?

Scott Miller: Coaching has been a significant part of my life since I was 24, but after nearly two decades, I felt the need for a new challenge. I wanted to innovate, develop new skills, and contribute to a space that is pioneering and future-focused. The opportunity to join iReel came at the perfect time.

James Doyle, the founder of iReel, reached out to me, and knowing him for some time, I was excited to join the venture. iReel is at the forefront of Gen AI in sports, and the chance to build technology that can transform the sporting industry was too good to pass up. It’s a different kind of challenge but one that’s equally rewarding.

Why would you recommend a career in sports technology for post-playing careers?

Scott Miller: Sports technology offers a unique opportunity for players looking to transition after their playing careers. The skills developed in sports, such as communication, leadership, and performance, are highly transferable to the tech space.

The sports tech industry allows you to stay involved in the sport while also building its future. Unlike coaching or analysis roles that are often dependent on performance results, a career in sports tech lets you create something from the ground up. It's a powerful and fulfilling path that I highly recommend to anyone looking to stay connected to sports in a meaningful way.

For full information on iReel and to contact the team, you can do so here.

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Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) has confirmed the appointment of Allana Neeve as the new General Manager - Women & Girls, Participation. This newly created position follows the completion of the NSW Football Legacy Program.

Neeve transitions to NNSWF from her role as Participation and Growth Manager at Hockey NSW.

She brings with her substantial experience in football, having spent nearly three years at Football Australia as the Women’s Football Coordinator, and previously working for Football Northern Territory as the Operations and Project Manager.

In addition to her professional experience, Neeve holds an AFC/FA C Licence and serves as the junior coach director at Queens Park FC.

In her new role, she will lead strategic initiatives aimed at boosting football participation, with a special emphasis on women and girls.

Her role will be instrumental in developing and implementing localised participation strategies that foster sustainable and inclusive football environments across northern NSW.

Neeve will collaborate closely with member zones and clubs to design and execute programs that resonate with local communities. She will also join the executive leadership team at NNSWF.

NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes said Neeve's experience will be crucial to the federation:

“Allana has a wealth of experience that she will bring to our business,” Haynes said in a statement.

“She has been working in a similar role at Hockey NSW and doing an outstanding job. But she also has plenty of experience in football which is obviously a huge bonus for us.

“I have no doubt Allana will be a great fit in this role and I can’t wait for her to join the team.”

This push to increase female participation in the sport is fantastic and comes at a good time with the women's football calendar across the world kicking off.

As the game sees growth in this area across all states and territories, it's equally as important to maintain and sustain its growth across a longer period of time to ensure the recent 2023 Women's World Cup momentum doesn't go to waste.

It has become the perfect foundation to build off and both the A-League Women's and NPL Women's will be continuing after record-breaking years.

Neeve will officially begin her role at NNSWF on September 17.

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Round Two of the Growing Football Community Grant Program is now open for local clubs to apply, it opened on August 21st and will go until September 16th.

In light of the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Football Australia introduced the Growing Football Fund to further boost the development of women’s football across the country and after a successful first round of recipients, applications opened up again for more grassroots clubs.

Supported by CommBank, this fund offers community clubs and associations the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000. These grants aim to support initiatives and programs focused on enhancing and promoting women’s and girls’ football.

Key dates

Application open dates:

10am AEST, Wednesday 21 August 2024 – 10pm AEST, Monday 16 September 2024

Project delivery period:

Clubs/associations will have up to 12 months to utilise the funding.

Grant objectives

The main goal of the Community Grant Program is to offer concrete support to clubs and associations, with an emphasis on initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining women and girls in football.

Additionally, the program seeks to:

- Create positive experiences for both new and returning football participants that encourage continued involvement in the sport.

- Enhance the education and development of community coaches, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high-quality football experiences.

- Assist clubs and associations in fostering inclusive and safe environments to help retain women and girls within their clubs.

The collective impact of these objectives will significantly contribute to Football Australia and CommBank’s shared goal of advancing gender equity and creating quality environments for women and girls within football.

Grant Guidelines + link

The Guidelines provide information on all things related to the grant, including eligibility criteria, type of activities that will or will not be funded, assessment criteria and more. Any club or association wishing to apply for the Growing Football Fund must review these guidelines.

A document outlining the conditions of the Grant can be found here.

In March 2024, the inaugural round of 121 clubs or associations was confirmed a Growing Football Community Grant.

To contact for more details, the email is provided below:

growingfootballfund@footballaustralia.com.au

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Football Australia has confirmed that Paramount Australia, the parent company of Network 10 and Paramount+, will be the official broadcaster for the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos in Australia. This deal includes the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ hosted in Australia and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Over 100 international matches featuring the Matildas and Socceroos will be broadcast live, with at least 50 available on free-to-air TV.

Paramount has also secured exclusive rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, in a partnership with IMG.

The agreement extends through 2028, encompassing all CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos friendly matches, AFC tournaments, and Australia Cup Finals. This deal, specifically with ING, also consolidates broadcasting rights under a single platform, ensuring extensive coverage across 96% of Australian households.

With the CommBank Young Matildas opener in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ kicking off on September 1st, 2024, fans will immediately benefit from this deal.

James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, remarked: “This landmark agreement with Paramount Australia is a pivotal moment for Australian football. It brings unprecedented exposure to our national teams and provides fans with unparalleled access to the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of our approach to sustaining and expanding the influence of Australian football. Reacquiring the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) National Team rights and securing the broadcast rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ are strategic moves designed to maximise control over our content, enhance fan accessibility, and unlock new revenue streams.

"These rights are integral to our strategy to secure a transformative broadcast deal that we anticipate will set new benchmarks in the valuation of football media rights in Australia. Bringing as much national team content as possible to a multi-platform partner was a key objective from a fan's perspective, and we are thrilled to achieve this.

"We look forward to our continued partnership with Paramount Australia, a relationship that has been pivotal in delivering high-quality football matches to our fans. This ongoing collaboration will be crucial as we navigate future opportunities and challenges in the dynamic media landscape.

"We also extend our gratitude to the IMG team for their invaluable support in navigating this complex negotiation with all parties involved and our friends at FIFA and AFC for their tremendous support and collaboration," concluded Mr. Johnson.

This agreement reinforces Paramount Australia's commitment to Australian football, which boasts the highest participation rate of club sport in the country and is the leading organized sport for children under 14.

With exclusive coverage of the A-Leagues, Paramount has been involved in Australian football for many years and continue to provide football fans with local broadcasts.

“Australian football fans are the winners here,” said Beverley McGarvey, President of Network 10 and Paramount Australia’s Head of Streaming and Regional Lead.

“Never before have fans had such incredible access to the sport they love, ranging from the A-Leagues all the way through to premium international games broadcast on one free-to-air network and one of Australia’s fastest-growing streaming platforms.

“Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the Paramount Australia agreement, which we see as an exciting extension of our coverage of the A-Leagues, is the opportunity for women’s football.

“All CommBank Matildas’ games at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will be telecast by Network 10 on free-to-air television, as will all Matildas’ games in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™,” Ms. McGarvey said.

Fans can access the broadcasts via Network 10 and/or Paramount+ subscriptions, exactly like the A-Leagues coverage.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive fan engagement opportunities, and social media initiatives will be part of this comprehensive coverage.

The full list of rights included in the agreement are:

• AFC Asian Qualifiers (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round)
  5 Sep 24 - Australia v Bahrain on Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+.
  10 Sep 24 - Indonesia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  10 Oct 24 - Australia v China PR on Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+.
  15 Oct 24 - Japan v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  14 Nov 24 - Australia v Saudi Arabia on Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+.
  19 Nov 24 - Bahrain v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  20 Mar 25 - Australia v Indonesia on Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+.
  25 Mar 25 - China PR v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  5 Jun 25 - Australia v Japan on Network 10, 10 Play, and Paramount+.
  10 Jun 25 - Saudi Arabia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
• FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ (15 matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ (six matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ (all matches exclusively on Paramount+).
• AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026™ and 2028™.
• All CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos International Friendlies 2025 to 2028 (15 CommBank Matildas Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+ and 10 Subway Socceroos’ Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• Australia Cup Finals 2025 to 2028.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has launched the Safe Football Project, to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of Australia's professional footballers.

Following a collaboration between the union and A-League Women players since 2021, Safe Football Project aims to make professional football as the safest available sport for women - by providing a platform to identify, address and reduce risks of abuse and harassment.

When a revelation came to light of Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna facing non-recent sexual harassment, grooming and bullying during her career, it prompted the creation of the project with her disclosure in 2021.

With other high-profile abuse cases in football worldwide, it saw an urgent need for the PFA to conduct a systemic review of the players’ workplaces and experiences.

FIFPRO, the World Players’ Association, and human rights advocates, have also helped to develop the Safe Football Project as areas of the current regulatory framework were addressed.

To achieve a safer workplace in professional football, the Safe Football Project identifies two key recommendations:

1. A Collaborative, Wholesale Review of Current Safeguarding Frameworks
2. Take Urgent, Interim Actions

The PFA conducted surveys with A-League Women players and collected the results via anonymous responses. Among the findings from 2023, 45% of players experienced harassment or abuse, but did not tell someone about it; from a total of 172 survey responses.

PFA Co-Chief Executive Kathryn Gill commented on the launch of the initiative:

“A safe workplace is a human right. Our members’ safety and wellbeing at work are our most important priority. However, the Project has shown that Australian football, like most sporting leagues, is falling short,” she said via press release.

“We activated the Safe Football Project not just as a response to past failures but to encourage everyone involved in the sport to address these serious and confronting challenges proactively.

“The next step is to work together with all stakeholders in Australian football to implement best practice safeguarding measures that are shaped by the people they are designed to protect – the players.

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank the many players who so actively contributed to the development of the Project and the courageous women who have spoken publicly about their experiences of abuse and harassment in the hope of being a catalyst for change.”

The Safe Football Project will play a crucial role in providing a safe and welcoming environment for players, in a high-performance industry that has seen serious incidents of abusive behaviour in recent years.

To read the Safe Football Project report and its findings in full, click here.

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Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) has created a working group for a strategy of the implementation of the men’s and women’s regional premier competitions for either the 2025 or 2026 season.

This league will try and represent the regional talent of NNSWF and give regional areas a more structured pathway for their talent and ensure that they can compete at a higher level without the need for relocation.

The working group will be made up of regional club representatives, regional zone representatives and NNSWF staff members.

The Term of Reference explains the main objectives of the working group are:

1. To develop a sustainable model for the RPC that complements existing community football structures.
2. To ensure the model aligns with NNSWF's strategic goals and benefits all stakeholders involved.
3. To consult with key stakeholders to gather insights and ensure broad support for the proposed competition.
4. To present a detailed model for the RPC to the NNSWF Board of Directors for approval, with an aim for implementation in 2025 or 2026.

There will be regular meetings, surveys, and public forums. with stakeholders throughout the process where they will be engaged in the creation of the draft plans for the competitions.

Some of these important progress dates are:

1. September 2024 they will have conducted stakeholder consultations develop a draft operating model and presented it to the regional Member Zones.
2. Present the final model to the NNSWF Board of Directors for approval by October 2024.
3. Implement the approved RPC model for the 2025 or 2026 football season, if they have Board approval.

This initiative strongly supports the strategic pillars outlined in the NNSWF Strategic Plan 2024-2026 which include: Talent Development for All, Participation for All and Showcasing our Game.

This working group is a positive and collaborative approach to the creation of an important new milestone competition for the huge regional areas in the NNSWF.

The working group is a diverse group of people with expertise in the region, this is so important for making sure the voices of the actual regional players and communities are heard, and the design of these big association developments can be moulded by the people most affected.

It will be interesting to see how this development continues in one of the most unique Australian footballing associations and its efforts to tackle the isolation of regional football in Australia.

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The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has confirmed a major update to its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with players, effective until 2030.

This move to abolish the draft was expected with the NWSL competing with European leagues for talent and growing at an extraordinary rate, leaving them to focus more on player welfare.

Key changes in the new CBA include:

Draft System Abolished: The NWSL will no longer use a draft system, making it the first major U.S. sports league to do so. This means players will have more control over their team choices.

Revenue Sharing and Salary Cap: The salary cap will increase significantly, from $3.3 million in 2025 to at least $5.1 million by 2030. Players will also benefit from a new revenue-sharing model that ties their salaries to the league's media and sponsorship income.

Improved Player Benefits: The minimum salary will rise from $48,500 to $82,500 by 2030. All player contracts will now be guaranteed. Additional benefits include expanded parental leave, childcare support, mental health services, and access to more health professionals.

Travel and Commercial Opportunities: Teams will have more charter flight options, and the league will commercialise player performance data. Players will also be more accessible to fans and media, and the number of games per season may increase.

Overall, these changes aim to improve player autonomy, compensation, and support while aligning the NWSL with global standards for women’s football.

Comparison to the A-League Women's structure

The lack of professionalism in the A-League Women's competition is a stark contrast to the NWSL's incredible rise, and while it’s unfair to compare one for one in terms of money, the foundations of its success hinged on its ability to pay players properly in the early doors of its existence.

In the 2023/24 season, the minimum wage for ALW players increased to $25,000 by virtue of the extended season, which went to a full home-and-away schedule for the first time.

Players were typically contracted for 35 weeks for a 22-round regular season, with four extra weeks for finals, factoring in preseason training.

The PFA survey conducted an important survey at the end of last season which found many players unhappy with the pay disparity to the A-League Men’s, failing to provide enough remuneration for players to live.

In the survey, 66% of respondents said $60,000 a year would enable them to put 100 per cent focus into their football career whilst 3 in every 5 (60%) claimed to have a second job other than their football, 46% of the players who worked a second job put more than 20 hours in a week at their other occupation.

By contrast, only 15% of A-League Men players were doing some work outside of playing this season, and 93% of those worked less than ten hours per week.

This lack of professionalism has recently forced the hand of top ALW talent like Macey Fraser, Courtnee Vine and Charlotte McLean who all made the move this winter to the NWSL, leaving behind a fair drop in talent for the domestic competition.

A reminder that in the Matildas World Cup squad, every single player had started their career in the A-League Women's competition, and it continues to lack the investment required to truly grow.

What is required for the sport to grow and for players to develop properly in this country is better standards for player welfare, giving top talent a reason to play domestically and growing the game in its own backyard.

Without this, the league will continue to be a stepping stone into Europe or the US with the talent pool suffering over here, which in turn stagnates the marketability of a league that should be growing rapidly following an incredible 2023 FIFA WWC.

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John Tsatsimas, Chief Executive Officer of Football New South Wales, experienced the joys of football at an early age when he was exposed to NSW State League competition by his father.

The memories of the first national competition (NSL) launched in 1977 on the Australian sporting landscape are still transfixed in his mind.

His first official post was as General Counsel at Newcastle Jets before he assumed the role of CEO at the club from 2007-2011.

Perhaps his finest hour was as CEO of Western Sydney Wanderers when the club won the Asian Cup in 2014 under the astute guidance of senior coach, Tony Popovic.

Significantly, he also presided over the establishment of major infrastructure innovations at the Wanderers base in Rooty Hill between 2012-2022, including the creation of multiple football fields and amenities which are the envy of most sports in Australia.

[caption id="attachment_26147" align="aligncenter" width="808"] Match action in the 2024 Football NSW Men's Waratah Cup Final between Rockdale Illiden and APIA Leichhardt at Jubilee Stadium (Photos: Damian Briggs/FNSW)[/caption]

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the experienced administrator at the Wanderers as he witnessed the changing of the coaching guard five times and the failure of the club to make finals football in the last four seasons , prior to his departure in May, 2022.

Nevertheless, John Tsatsimas is a resilient football administrator and since his appointment as CEO at FNSW in November 2022, he has applied all his skills in guiding the organisation on a steady course of stability.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, John Tsatsimas discusses all things football.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You’ve held CEO positions at Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Football N.S.W.

Do you think the game is making sufficient progress?

JOHN TSATSIMAS

The game has evolved over the last twenty years and we’ve seen a lot of changes at a professional level.

It has grown exponentially in playing numbers in this period but there are always challenges re-emerging in different ways.

Also, the presence of a multitude of sports played in the country which compete for funding is a major challenge to the amateur and professional game

R.S.

Football has enjoyed large participation rates since the mid 1960’s.

How can this be translated into support at senior level?

J.T.

That’s the million dollar question as the game has historically been a  gateway for young people to play sport ,and trying to retain their support is the biggest issue in the face of increasing demand for infrastructure and the large choice of activities available to them.

Therefore, we need to provide better coaching, improved training facilities and more effective  engagement with an emphasis on providing pathways for players to compete at the highest level and increasing their appetite to follow senior football.

R.S.

NPL Men’s and Women’s football competitions are poorly attended.

In contrast, three weeks ago, Canterbury v Canberra in the NRL drew a crowd of 18,000 at Belmore Oval, while Sydney Olympic are lucky to get attendances of 500 at that ground.

What is  FNSW doing to address this situation?

J.T.

Rugby League has been entrenched since 1908 on the Eastern seaboard but they have very small playing numbers compared to football.

Also, we have competitions where matches are played at the same time due to the large fixture schedule.

People who attend NRL in the main don’t play the game as opposed to our constituents who either coach, play , are spectators or are involved  with transport assistance or fulfil volunteer roles.

Consequently, our sport has large numbers of people who are involved at grass roots while senior football is being played which reduces the spectator pool significantly.

[caption id="attachment_26146" align="aligncenter" width="891"] John Tsatsimas handing out the awards at the Gala event[/caption]

R.S.

Are you satisfied with the level of promotion for NPL football, in view of the very high standard of football produced this season?

J.T.

Certainly, the standard this year has been very high and we must give full credit to coaches and players.

However, it’s not the A-League and in the winter months the presence of the established senior codes, NRL and AFL and the blanket media coverage they receive, is more than challenging.

We are continually looking at ways to improve spectator numbers but there has also been a record number of viewers watching YouTube television this year so the interest in the competition is definitely there.

Also, people can watch up to six games through this medium which proves we are accessing the target markets.

R.S.

Match times for the NPL Men’s competition range from 3 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Why can’t we go back to the traditional 3 p.m kick off times for all first team games?

J.T.

The women’s programs are mainly played on Sunday and with the exploding growth of their game, it does create great pressure on facility availability.

Ideally, 3 p.m. kick offs as in former times would be welcome but ultimately the NPL clubs can make their own decisions about playing schedules without direction from FNSW.

R.S.

What is FNSW doing to reduce playing fees for elite football and other amateur participants?

J.T.

It’s a long standing issue but other sports have large broadcasting assistance and obviously a smaller cost base to subsidise their amateur players.

Amateur football clubs aren’t running a business and the costs are infinite, e.g. coaching, field hire council lighting, football gear and insurance.

If we had a silver bullet to change the situation, there would be reform where funding was provided from top down to support amateur football.

However, if we have players who haven’t the means to play at elite level we will attempt to assist them, just as amateur clubs will do if necessary.

R.S.

What is your opinion of the proposed National Second Tier?

J.T.

It’s been long talked about but we’re focusing on our competition.

We certainly won’t stand in the way of any club which has the aspiration to play in a higher level of competition.

As long as our existing clubs are fully invested in NPL football at the present time, we aren’t making any judgement on their desire to participate in the National Second Tier.

Critically, if there is going to be a successful NST, there really has to be representation from all states and a framework for promotion and relegation.

The problem is, the current model for the APL stipulates there won’t be any promotion and relegation until 2034.

[caption id="attachment_26152" align="aligncenter" width="911"] Match action in the NPLNSW Women’s Grand Final between Bulls Academy FC and Macarthur Rams at Valentine Sports Park (Photos: Damian Briggs/Speedmedia)[/caption]

R.S.

After your extensive involvement in the A-league, what is your opinion of its current standing?

J.T.

Challenging times, but I’d like to thing those in charge would give it direction and provide aspiration for junior players to progress through the ranks of NPL to A-League, to Matilda and Socceroo status and then seek out opportunities overseas which will boost the strength of the Socceroos and Matildas.

This can’t be achieved without a functional and successful APL which needs support from everybody in the game.

R.S.

How can we get more former players involved in the game?

J.T.

It’s often a case of creating positions but not every former player wants to stay in the game after their playing career has finished.

It’s a work in progress which has to be considered carefully because former players can definitely add so much to many areas of the game.

R.S.

Can the F.A. show better leadership?

J.T.

Those at the helm of the F.A. join the organisation with the best of intentions and similarly the APL.

However, the sport needs to move away from the pockets of success and grow the game on a consistent basis.

This is the greatest challenge for the governing body and after the success of the Women’s World Cup, the announcement by the Federal government of $200 million funding for women’s sport, with only a small portion allocated  to women’s football, was unexplainable.

These are the issues which require serious attention and strong leadership.

The post John Tsatsimas – Leading the Charge at Football New South Wales appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Australia has partnered with the Australian Government to support the growth of elite football in the neighbouring Pacific nations.

Through the four-year investment deal delivered by PacificAus Sports, this new partnership will focus primarily on regular international competitions between Australian and Pacific Island international teams.

The outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.

These competitions will include both men’s and women’s teams from all age groups.

The renewed partnership follows a number of successful initiatives involving Pacific nations, starting with the 2019 Pacific Tour to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga by Australia’s Junior Matildas, before expanding to include Australian age-group men’s and women’s national football teams.

Furthermore, this will include futsal national teams and competitions and allow for regular competitive games for pacific nations against upcoming and experienced Australian teams.

This partnership will also aim to deliver capacity building initiatives for the development of players, officials and administrators in the Pacific.

In conjunction with this, PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’.

Though Australia left the Oceania Football federation (OFC) for the Asian Federation in 2006, due to the geographical proximity of the pacific nations, Football Australia has always tried to maintain a strong and supportive relationship with its island neighbours.

Football Australia’s Chair Anter Issac commented:

“Australian football has many natural connections and intersections with the Pacific through a long-shared history of the game in this region. The surge in interest and inspiration for the game across the Pacific, particularly after our co-hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand™, is undeniable,” he said via media release.

“Our relationship with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is a cornerstone of our regional strategy.

“The collaborative efforts between Football Australia and OFC and Member Associations across the region have been critical in strengthening our ties within the Pacific, allowing us to work together towards common objectives and ensuring the continued development of football in the region.”

Australia’s wealth and talent in football is a massive asset for its neighbours and one which they count on for a lot of support.

It will also help to try and bring connection and personal links with the sport and the local communities to help with the growing support of the sport in the region.

Additionally, there is opportunity for investors and sponsors to gain huge benefits form this partnership and its future.

For Australia, this initiative in supporting the Pacific Island’s football both helps develop Pacific footballing quality, and connects the entire region closer.

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Adelaide United confirm the launch of their Girls Only Junior Development Program which enhances the clubs commitment to nurturing young female football talent.

This new initiative is an expansion of their existing Junior Development Program and is specifically tailored to support the next generation of female players.

The program will take place at Jubilee Reserve in West Lakes and is scheduled to run from Friday, 23 August to Friday, 20 September. Over the course of five sessions, girls aged 9 to 14 will have the opportunity to develop their fundamental football skills in a dedicated and supportive environment.

The focus of the program is not just on football techniques but also on fostering personal growth, confidence, and empowerment.

Top youth development coaches from the A-League club will guide young players to excel both on and off the field, ensuring they build the skills and mindset necessary for success in both football and in life.

By expanding on its already successful Girls Only program, Adelaide United is reinforcing its dedication to providing clear pathways for young female athletes, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to reach their full potential.

Marcelo Carrusca​​​​, Adelaide United’s Head of Junior Development discussed the big potential this program has to create a simple pathway for young girls in the state.

“We are thrilled to launch this Girls Only Junior Development Program, which marks a significant step forward in our commitment to nurturing female talent,” Carrusca said in a club statement.

“This program is not just about football; it’s about giving young girls the confidence and skills they need to succeed in all areas of life. We want to create an environment where they feel empowered to reach their full potential.”

This is a fantastic initiative and has been a goal of the club for many years. With the incredible growth of the women's game in Australia, they are focused on trying to create the best development environment in the country for local girls, similar to their extensive success with the boys program.

Registrations for the Girls Only Junior Development Program are now open through the club's official website.

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AC Milan has confirmed they will implement a new maternity policy for its female players and staff, which will ensure a series of protections during pregnancy and early childhood that go beyond current regulations.

This newly introduced policy by the club will guarantee an automatic contract renewal for female players in the event of pregnancy during the final season of their contracts.

The Italian club will also make sure there will be assistance with childcare once the player returns to action. This will include support for flights, accommodation, and other travel expenses for the child of the player who carried the pregnancy, plus one companion.

In addition, the current existing protections related to pregnancy, mandatory remuneration, and return to activity will remain in place for players.

AC Milan CEO, Giorgio Furlani, commented on the new maternity policy and hopes that will inspire other clubs to follow:

"We are proud to present such an important project, which once again demonstrates AC Milan's attention towards relevant matters for all the people of the Rossoneri family," he said via media release on the club's website.

"We want this new step to be a further motivation for growth and development for the entire Club, becoming a model to follow, at a national and international level, ensuring that the world of football increasingly becomes an environment where everyone can feel free to make important personal decisions."

Head of Women's Football at AC Milan, Elisabet Spina, praised the club's effort to support its female players:

"The Club has always shown great attention to the well-being of its female players and staff members, both professionally and personally," she said via media release on the club's website.

"For example, we were the first Italian Club to contribute social security benefits to our players, well before the introduction of professionalism. We further demonstrated it through the #WeAllAreFootball manifesto to mitigate gender conflict, which led to the definition of principles, initiatives, and concrete interventions on the Club’s infrastructure.

"We are now about to start a new season in which we will work to achieve important goals, both on and off the field: we are excited to approach it by introducing our innovative policy," she said.

According to FIFPro's 2017 Women's Global Employment Report, a global study on working conditions in women's football, only two per cent of female players interviewed across four continents had children and 47 per cent said they would leave the sport to start a family.

However earlier this year, FIFPro unveiled changes to further protect players and coaches during and after pregnancy which included:

• A minimum of two, four or eight weeks' leave for adoption
• At least eight weeks of leave for the partners of mothers in same-sex relationships
• Players have the right to take time off for health issues related to menstruation

AC Milan's new maternity policy is an excellent way to show support for female players' ambitions on and off the pitch, providing an opportunity to start a family while playing at a high level of sport.

Football clubs across the world, including Australia, should consider following and applying this policy to ensure female players are given the chance to still play at an elite level while not worrying too much about how it affects life outside of the sport.

Regarding football in Australia and the complicated financial situation it's currently in, it may take a while for a policy like this to be pulled off and applied at football clubs and organisations in Australia.

The post AC Milan introduce new maternity policy to help female players appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football NSW has worked through their 2024 Player Development Review and used it as a guide to improve its women's and girls' competitions and development programs for the coming seasons.

From 23 members and stakeholders’ meetings and 1,490 survey responses they have outlined six major adaptations for the following seasons in the 2025-26 competition and technical changes:

1. Maintain the current numbers within Girls’ / Women’s Competitions, two tiers of 14 Clubs.
2. Expand the Girls’ Youth League Two to include Under 18s, aligning the leagues
3. Women’s Reserve Grade & U20s to become Under 23s (plus 4 overage players per match card team sheet)
4. Decoupling of Girls’ Youth League & Women’s Senior Competitions
5. Implementation of Club Standards across Girls’ Youth Leagues (two-year licence period)
6. Dissolution of the Football NSW Institute program & introduction of the ‘Future Sapphires’ programs.

On top of this, the Football NSW Institute program, open since 2013, will close operations at the end of the 2024 season.

An interesting take from Football NSW given the amount of talent that has been produced by the program including prominent Matildas.

Though Football NSW does point out that with the rise in player numbers in grassroots football and female engagement across NSW and the massive investment from clubs through all levels in girls' development.

The institute now could be observed as obsolete due to the size of the women's game in NSW.

The closure of the Institute will free the association to concentrate on ensuring Club accountability, competition regulation and capability building across all participant groups (e.g. coaches, referees, technical directors).

The development and playing opportunities for girls and women are now placed predominantly in the player pathway programs of 4 A league clubs (Central Coast Mariners, Macarthur FC, Newcastle Jets FC and West Sydney Wanderers FC).

The idea is that the implementation of Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework, alongside Football NSW mechanisms of support, will streamline the delivery of extensive girls’ and women’s high-performance programs in NSW.

The Football NSW-led talented player pathway, underpinned by Club programs, the Talent Support Program (TSP) and the Talent Development Scheme (TDS) matches in conjunction with Football Australia.

These clubs are set to participate in the 2025/2026 Football NSW Girls’ Youth Leagues and Senior Women’s Competitions (NPL Women’s and League One Women’s).

Football NSW’s joint activities with these clubs will give players more opportunities at higher levels for girls and women's players than Football NSW has done before.

With this Football NSW has also announced the ‘Future Sapphires’ program in 2025. A 40-week program for players across the Under 15, Under 16 & Under 18 age grades.

Some major goals of this new program include:

• 75% retention rate
• 45% of national representatives from NSW
• 25% increase in Female coaches and managers

This development shows a massive change in the NSW Football system for girls' development and women’s competitive football.

This bold strategy is more than possible to achieve growth in NSW’s women’s football if the strategies are met and the support continues.

Exciting times lie ahead for female football in NSW.

The post Football NSW updated Girls’ and Women’s Competitions appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci is steadfast in capitalising on the World Cup hype, as lofty goals are at the heart of his success metrics within the member federation.

His ambition of football becoming the number one sport of choice in Queensland is backed by strategic objectives that focus on all facets of the game, all released within the last few months.

In a wide-ranging chat with Soccerscene, Cavallucci discusses the 2024-2026 Game Development Strategy, 2024-2026 Referee Strategy, 2023-2026 One Football Strategic Plan and his perspective on the National Second Tier situation in Queensland.

[caption id="attachment_25557" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The Matildas celebrate Cortnee Vine's decisive penalty.[/caption]

How was the 2024-2026 Game Development Strategy developed with forming objectives? 

Robert Cavallucci: Our strategic plan mirrors Football Australia’s, but translates directly into a Queensland context; the KPIs, planning structure, priorities and pillars are the same, but we break it down into what the Queensland contribution to the national objectives are.

My role as CEO is to operationalise that plan. If you look at it and see a whole bunch of things in here – such as gender parity, referees, fans, coaches and pathways that should be in a plan – my job is to see what tasks are needed and what organisational design is required to deliver these objectives.

We’ve constructed 11 operational plans which includes the game development plan, futsal, referees, coach education, women & girls, elite pathway government relations and stadium strategy.

Within each of those 11 plans, it’s got all that we need to do over the next four years across each of the 10 regions of Queensland to realise these goals.

How we do it is working with our game development team, GMs and stakeholders across the state.

All KPIs are broken down across each of the 10 regions - each of our region managers understand what to do for their area: including Far North, Wide Bay, South Coast or Darling Downs.

Knowing what we’re meant to do in a region means that it can translate to successful outcomes which delivered over the last four years. Without those frameworks in place, you really are just a rudderless ship and you're very unlikely to achieve anything.

We've got a good framework behind us with our budgets around it and therefore across all those strategic objectives, we're absolutely making material differences which is good.

When you're out there working with stakeholders such as schools, community groups, or clubs to drive interest in the game, we must translate that in through several different channels and mechanisms.

We then translate that into decisions to move them into clubs within their community and then we can bring them through the different programs at a club level – which includes social engagement, social interaction and social participation.

Whether it's multicultural, women & girls, school or indoor, there's dozens of different programs that we have that make it possible – and we've expanded that even more with the Brisbane Roar in new community programs that we're doing under their brand.

[caption id="attachment_25553" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The Game Development Strategy is across 10 regions of Queensland.[/caption]

How is the general interest in the game across the regions?

Robert Cavallucci: I don't think I’ve ever seen it as extensive as it is now in Queensland, the interest is off the charts.

It's easy to have interest but you must have the programs to match that interest. Events will come and go such as World Cups, but if you don't have the mechanisms in place to keep that interest thriving and to transition it into active participation, then the interest is not relevant and it's wasted.

One of the primary jobs of a member federation is to do that, it's one of our key obligations to generate interest and bring active participation.

[caption id="attachment_25550" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] World Cup tournaments have been a key driver for participation rates.[/caption]

The 2024-2026 Referee Strategy has been created, what are some of the differences to support officials?

Robert Cavallucci: The Referee Strategy is one of the most important ones, but one of the more complex as well.

You can put on a thousand courses, and you can drive interest, but there's so many other factors outside of our control that severely impact referee numbers.

We have broader issues in our society that has nothing to do with football, but relates with interpersonal relationships - how do people treat and talk to each other?

What's acceptable in levels of aggression or abuse? There is none, but people might have differing opinions about what that is. What are the factors that people believe that, in a sporting context, they’re allowed to drop societal rules from general discourse with someone and abuse someone in the middle of the field?

To support referees, we have the three strikes policy and it’s probably the hardest in Australia, but they're built on collective responsibility. Everyone at a club is responsible for the actions of every participant and player at the club.

You can't just disassociate yourself and go, he or she is a bad egg, everyone else is fine. No, if you see abuse, you are obligated to say that behaviour is not welcome here.

Until we have collective responsibility over these issues where they are some positive outcomes, I don't think we're going to be able to reset the behavioural norms at a football field.

That’s what it will take to see a meaningful change in the number and quality of referees.

If the churn rate is so high, how do you have someone in a system developing for 3, 5 or 10 years when they're barely lasting just a few years? It's a broader issue, but ultimately, we can only solve societal issues to a certain point within the context of a football club.

Social media is a significant issue and challenge for us. That's another mechanism by which people can aggregate in groups, large or otherwise, and disassociate themselves from societal norms, and treat people appallingly.

Who wants to be a referee when you see people behaving like that and criticising or diminishing referees in a cruel way, particularly under 18 referees? It’s just unacceptable.

We can have whatever strategies we like around referees and numbers, but they're always going to be constrained by our ability to address social issues.

The strategy itself was constructed with the same methodology as all the other 11, but it's what do we need to do within our control as a member federation to get more referees interested, support them and keep them in the game longer.

[caption id="attachment_25555" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Building and maintaining respect for officials is the number one priority for the Referee Strategy.[/caption]

You mention churn being a key issue, what measures have you implemented so far?

Robert Cavallucci: We're trialling video cameras on the chest with Football Australia, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

The intent for doing it is to develop better solutions to some of those issues in a game setting. It’s also to support transitioning to a single point of accountability in a team, such as a captain.

It’s done in other codes, and it always seems to work well. When it comes to officiating, there's some lessons to be learned.

Rugby Union has extraordinary levels of respect being commanded by referees. I don't think there's any code that does it as well as they do in terms of senior, national and international levels. It’s just incredible and that's where we want to get to as a sport.

All it takes is a small minority to ruin any progress we’ve made from an investment or participation point of view. Everyone, whether it be A-League or NPL level, needs to understand what good behaviour looks like.

Gender parity is the theme of the 2023-2026 One Football Strategic Plan, how is that tracking?

Robert Cavallucci: Gender parity is everyone getting involved; including referees, coaches, players, boards, club boards, club committees and FQ committees. It's parity across the board, so it's not exclusive to participation on the field.

We’ve seen some significant success in participation – we’re 44% higher this year in female growth.

We're well on track to hit gender parity in 2027-2028 and we’ve pushed that out slightly only because we've had a lot more growth in the boys than we thought we would. Whilst we hit our targets with the girls, we got more boys than we thought.

Ultimately that brings the curve back together slightly. It's making a lot of progress, as we're about 69% for boys now. Only a couple of years ago, we were at ratios of 80:20 and now it’s moved to 69:31.

We're pulling it back by 4-5 percent each year, so over the next three or four years we absolutely want to be as close to 50:50 as we can and that meets our participation targets as well; particularly in Queensland we'll be in a good spot as a as a code.

We'll not only be the largest male code, but the largest women's sporting code in Queensland. We're not far off it now and in turn netball but we're hunting them down at a great rate of knots.

Our objective is ambitious, but we've absolutely been tracking there the last three years at incredible speed so it's staggering what can be achieved when you do have extremely well thought out documented plans. It's been very carefully constructed over the last three or four years and it presents one of our greatest challenges which is infrastructure, but at the same time it's a challenge that we want and we are solving with government - that was a challenge of our own doing as a sport.

For 20 previous years we did a poor job of working with government of all persuasions and didn’t articulate the needs of football. We never had the confidence to tell the football story in Queensland or Australia for that matter and we always pushed ourselves down the ranks, and I don't know why. Maybe because we were embarrassed about the disarray of the governance that the game was in, or the administration, and didn’t think we had the right to stand up and be counted in years gone by.

We are a massive global sport and the biggest in Queensland & Australia. We're the fastest growing and have global events such as World Cups and Olympics. Which part of any of that story should we not be overwhelmingly proud and feel like we've got every right to take our place as the most dominant code in Australia?

It's just unbelievable that we haven't had the leaders who felt that way and absolutely by design say football's not ready to do that yet.

If you don't tell people who you are, everyone else will say who you are and that's the football story over the last 20 years.

My aim is to reposition that which has occurred over the last three or four years, as we have an excellent relationship with government and communicate with them weekly; we've had some massive outcomes in a funding shift, but we've still got a long way to. From where we started, the difference is staggering.

[caption id="attachment_25554" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Gender parity targets are promoting the game in Queensland to be inclusive for all.[/caption]

What has been observed in participation rates post men's and women's World Cups?

Robert Cavallucci: The important thing to recognise is football doesn't want anything that it doesn't deserve based on its representation in the community. Any government funding, no matter what it is, should be based on community need.

If there's a community need from a football perspective, then that needs to be addressed; it’s not like we want something that is over and above, it's just meeting some minimum basic standards of what the community needs to be active and healthy.

What I think often gets lost is the way that some within the game put that argument forward that they give the impression that they're entitled to things over and above what other sports have been getting.

Other sports have just done a better job historically at demonstrating their needs, whereas we've done a bad job and we're not patient enough to know the turnaround will take time and no one wants to wait.

As a sport, we shouldn’t be asking for the world, but there is a need and its data-driven need for the community. Other sports have gotten away with socialising their costs and privatising their profits for the last 20 years, which has allowed them to be in a very strong position of their professional game, and that has never been afforded to football.

I see the football community being annoyed that other massive codes with billion-dollar incomes have had the bulk of their cost base for infrastructure paid by the public taxpayer, which has allowed them to be in a position of strength at a professional level.

No one plays those sports at a community level, but at a professional level where it's privately owned, they've done a very good job of socialising their costs. And that provides a huge advantage at that level of the game that we see the A-League suffering the consequences from because of the absence of relevant infrastructure.

It's going to be a very volatile next 10 years as we work through that. I'm not saying that football should be funded by the taxpayer at all, but there's got to be a better share of reasonable outcomes from governments of all persuasions at all levels.

[caption id="attachment_25552" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Infrastructure is one of the key challenges that Football Queensland are addressing.[/caption]

Tell us about the Equaliser campaign and what you’ve seen to date?

Robert Cavallucci: The #EQUALISER State Election campaign is an initiative driven by the need of our Queensland football community. Data gathered by Football Queensland shows that 71% of greenspaces and football fields across the state suffer from inadequate drainage and only 42% of fields with lighting meet minimum playing and safety standards. These statistics highlight just a few key areas of infrastructure that have suffered from lack of investment and are now holding football in Queensland back from thriving.

With the state election approaching in October, the timing of the #EQUALISER initiative couldn't be more crucial. We’ve gathered survey responses from more than 6,000 members of the Queensland football community and over 76% of respondents indicated that their voting preferences could be swayed by political candidates' commitments to investing in football clubs.

It is with this information that FQ is driving the #EQUALISER campaign, engaging in conversations with government officials to advocate for greater investment that will ensure safe and accessible green spaces for the more than 300,000 football participants across the state, both now and into the future.

[caption id="attachment_25551" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The Equaliser campaign is designed to collate the needs and requirements of the football community.[/caption]

You’ve been working closely with Brisbane Roar; do they relay some of their challenges?

Robert Cavallucci: We’ve got a great working relationship now with the Roar and it's how it should be. About 10-15 years ago it was there but not really and then it just descended quite badly in recent years. Since I've been at Football Queensland and since Kaz Patafta and Zac Anderson have been at the Roar, we're all had a similar mindset about uniting the game and coming up with the best way of making that happen. That means not everyone has to do everything and we'd look at each other's strengths and what we're investing in.

We address what we want out of it and figure out strategies. For example, supporting academies which makes sense for Football Queensland to do.

Instead of the Roar having to deliver something not as optimally as they should, we can do it because we're already doing it 10 times bigger.

Together, it means integrated staff, integrated systems and good technical outcomes. We've already got 11 offices across the state, 100 casual staff and thousands of programs. The Roar trying to do similar is disjointed and doesn't deliver outcomes for them or us. It's getting together and saying, how can we do this better together?

We just want to make things simple and streamline it, so the Roar get the outcomes they want – such as more kids at games, more memberships, and greater interest in the A-League.

Those things are all essentially what we want and it's what the Roar wants as well. If there’s good governance and oversight, the game wins.

Ultimately that's a best practice scenario with how we should be looking at this right across the country to change the delivery model of many parts of the game.

[caption id="attachment_25556" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The 'FQ & Roar Football in the Community’ program was introduced this year.[/caption]

Can you shed some light on the National Second Tier (NST) situation in Queensland?

Rob Cavallucci: I love how people view Football Queensland negatively because clubs in Queensland have common sense; there seems to be this rationale that if a club chooses not to participate in the NST, then there must be something wrong with Football Queensland.

The logic escapes me, it's an egotistical perspective; surely your ego as a club is so extravagant that you can't help but want to be in the NST competition.

There are massive clubs such as the Queensland Lions that say they are not interested.

The reality of the decision-making process for Queensland clubs is how they view success – do they want to sacrifice 100+ teams for one men’s team?

It's a simple, rational decision made by logical people that whilst in principle they would they think it’s great to have a NST and compete at a higher level, the reality is none of them are willing to sacrifice 100 teams and their success just on the basis of one.

There are 10 possible models and there's two or three logical models that could be used to start the league with different permutations from there.

I don't think that the clubs have an interest in the current design based on the risk and the barriers to entry and that's a risk that none of them can process in a way that doesn't expose the club to any form of harm or detriment whether it be financial or otherwise.

Had it been another model or format, then it's quite likely that they would participate for sure. It might appeal to Victorian or New South Wales clubs, but it certainly doesn't appeal to the broader Queensland environment.

You can't understate the experience of the Queensland clubs; we've been doing planes and travel weekly for NPL and otherwise for nearly 10 years.

They know what it's like and they're doing it now. We've got flights every weekend, with clubs going all over the state for Champions League, the Kappa Pro Series, and the Queensland Cup. They're doing that and have done so for a decade.

Therefore, it's not a foreign concept to them and they know what the travel’s like. It’s not the same as Sydney or Melbourne where everyone's within a few kilometres or an hour's travel time.

It’s a conscious decision from Queensland clubs who would rather not, and we shouldn’t be throwing criticism at them, but rather accept the fact that not all clubs want to take this kind of risk.

They aren’t ruling out ever being part of the NST, but when the time is right; Presidents and GMs absolutely love the concept.

The post Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci: “We’ve got every right to take our place as the most dominant code in Australia” appeared first on Soccerscene.

Football Australia has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Allianz Australia to be their Official Insurance Partner.

Allianz has a strong history of supporting sports, especially football in Australia, such as having a stadium named after the insurance company in Sydney and showing support through major sporting initiatives such as the ‘Grassroots Champions’ which encourages young athletes to continue playing sport.

This agreed partnership showcases a significant investment in the ongoing growth and development of football in Australia.

CEO of Football Australia, James Johnson, commented on the collaboration with Allianz Australia:

“We are delighted to welcome Allianz to the growing Football Australia family. Their commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment mirrors our own values and vision for football in Australia. This partnership will not only provide crucial support for our national teams but also inspire the next generation of Australian talent. We look forward to a successful and collaborative partnership,” he said in a statement from Football Australia.

“Allianz joins a suite of other commercial partners who have partnered with Football Australia over the last four years. We are delighted to add another global brand to our network of strong partnerships, further enhancing our ability to grow the game and support our teams."

Managing Director of Allianz Australia, Richard Feledy, has expressed his excitement about the multi-year partnership with Football Australia:

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Football Australia, further highlighting our global commitment to sport and the incredible value it brings to the communities in which we operate. This partnership is a natural fit for us, given Allianz's global family of stadiums and our commitment to football internationally. We believe sport promotes diversity, supports mental and physical health, and fosters a sense of unity and belonging. Through this partnership with Football Australia, we hope to inspire future generations of footballers,” he said in an Allianz media release.

Football Australia has outlined some other key highlights of their partnership:

• Major Branded Assets: Allianz Australia will have logo branding on the back of the training and off-field apparel for Socceroos, Matildas, ParaMatildas, and Pararoos teams.
• Support for Para-athletes: Allianz Australia strengthens its commitment to para-athletes as the Official Partner of the ParaMatildas and Pararoos.
• Global and Local Presence: The partnership builds on Allianz Australia’s rich history in football globally, which includes collaborations with FC Bayern and Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium). Since 2021, Football Australia’s National Teams have played 39 nations across 16 countries on four continents.
• Inclusive, Diverse, and Accessible: According to Cultural Pulse, football represents over 200 cultures, spanning 2,300 grassroots clubs across Australia. This rich cultural diversity enhances the sport and creates a welcoming, supportive environment for players, fans, and communities.
• Empowering Individuals and Communities: According to Cultural Pulse, football is the top sport for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

Furthermore, Allianz Australia will launch a major marketing campaign for Paris 2024 ahead of the Matildas' opening Olympic match on July 25.

After this announcement, the partnership is bound to bring excitement to the broad Australian football community and will provide benefits to many different cultural and diverse groups to support the growth and development of the beautiful game. 

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Following the recent surges nationwide in female participation, Football Queensland (FQ) has also proven they are making important strides in their 50/50 gender parity plan, with FQ appointing women to higher positions in the sports hierarchy.

Throughout the state, FQ is committed to achieving 50/50 gender parity in participants, referees, committees and club officials by 2027.

FQ has announced that of 10 FQ members, five have been women, hitting an impressive 50/50 representation.

These representatives are chosen from their local communities, proving that the push for change in equity comes from the members of the community.

These members include Sarah Jones (Far North & Gulf), Roslyn Minnikin (Metro South Chair), Azra Rantucci (Northern), Jodie Dickens (South Coast) and Rebecca Whisker (Sunshine Coast).

In conjunction with these appointments, Football Queensland also announced the re-election of Board Director Amy Chapman following the recent Annual General Meeting as the FQ Board of Directors.

FQ President Paula Robinson commented:

“Following a huge 2023 that saw the game reach new audiences and engagement levels like never before and after FQ recorded an incredible 44% increase in outdoor female players in the first quarter of 2024, we are excited to further consolidate the growth of female representation on the pitch with similar progress off the pitch in vital governance roles,” she said.

These appointments are a key part of the Football Queensland 2024-2026 Women’s & Girls Strategy and show the effort made to deliver on this mission.

In Pillar One: Participants & Clubs: A main goal is for 100% of Queensland club boards, committees and FQ members to meet the 40/40/20 gender representation by 2027.

These appointments prove that FQ is well on the way to this goal not just in leadership but also state-wide through all the different footballing communities.

FQ President Paula Robinson also commented, “Having such a diverse group of esteemed members within football’s governance ranks helping to design an inclusive future for the game in Queensland will ensure that more participants, particularly women and girls, can get involved in the game earlier and remain engaged for life.”

Retaining participants and early involvement in the game is another goal within Pillar One of the 2024-2026 Strategy.

Also in Pillar 2: Advanced Pathways one of the strategies includes:

Increase the awareness of the 50/50 gender parity initiative through storytelling and regular representation of achievements in all our published collateral and marketing promotions.

This news post is a prime example of the media and storytelling strategies towards the equity goal of 2027.

The announcement shows dedication to the ambitious plans of Football Queensland for the Women’s 2024-2026 strategy.

In this process, FQ will be making the football scene a more accurate industry of Australian's diverse sporting community.

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Lake Macquarie City FC is set to join the NPL Women's Northern NSW competition next year, replacing Warners Bay FC after relinquishing their NPLW licence once the 2024 season concludes.

This comes after Warners Bay's decision to hand back their NPLW licence after a thorough evaluation of the resources and infrastructure required to successfully manage a premier league program in a rapidly growing women's football landscape. Therefore, this move will see Lake Macquarie City enter teams into all NPL Women's NNSW grades, as well as competitions such as the Premier Youth League Girls and Junior Development League.

Warners Bay FC President Nathan Aurisch spoke about the difficult decision:

"The club ultimately found itself unable to meet the increasing demands and criteria associated with managing a Premier program, including volunteers and financial requirements, without impacting the Community Football program," Aurisch said via their club's website.

"We want to acknowledge the significant contributions of all our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters that have led to a very successful period of women’s football at Warners Bay. Warners Bay FC will continue to focus on our core business which is to give those girls and boys an environment to enjoy and play football.

"We understand that this transition may be difficult for many and we want to assure everyone involved that this decision was not made lightly. We are committed to support the players, coaches and staff affected by this change. Lake Macquarie City FC has expressed their openness to welcoming Warners Bay FC players and staff who wish to continue competing at the premier level."

Lake Macquarie City President Steve Graham showed his respects to Warners Bay FC and hopes his club will be the premier pathway and development choice for footballers in the region.

“Our commitment lies in establishing high standards for football education, modern facilities and fostering a network of affiliates that empowers talented female and male players to realise their full potential,” Graham said via a Northern NSW Football media release.

“Transferring Warners Bay FC’s Women and Girls NPLW program to LMCFC aligns seamlessly with our player development framework and overall action plan for the club. We want to acknowledge the fantastic contribution that Warners Bay FC have made to women’s football in the northern NSW region.

“Our club is committed to offering the best development environment for players in the northern NSW football region. We are excited about this opportunity to provide an inclusive pathway for young female players from grassroots to glory with the addition of this licence."

Warners Bay FC enjoyed a successful run in the NPLW where they were the NNSWF Women's Premier League premiers in 2017 and 2018, winning the grand final in 2016, having been beaten in the 2017, 2018 and 2020 deciders. The Panthers also won the NPL Women's NNSW double in 2022 being crowned premiers and champions after beating Newcastle Olympic 4-2 in the Grand Final.

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Joe Montemurro has become the first non-French coach to take over Olympique Lyon Women's team in their 20-year history after a two-year deal was struck with the legendary Australian coach.

The former Juventus and Arsenal head coach takes over the reins from Sonia Bompastor who left at the end of the 2023-24 season to manage WSL club Chelsea.

Montemurro's resume in the women's game is truly unmatched, leading Juventus to five trophies over a three year stretch including a treble in his maiden season. Before that he had a revolutionary coaching spell at WSL giants Arsenal, with whom he claimed the 2018 League Cup and the Women's Super League the following year.

Montemurro is just another of many top Australian coaches produced from home soil, with his youth squads and A-League Women's experience in Melbourne shaping the genius he has become today.

However, a hot topic in the Australian coaching community has been the lack of opportunities abroad for many local coaches whether it be due to the lack of pathways up the ranks or the AFC/UEFA licencing issue that has locked out managers from going abroad.

In a country that has produced plenty of elite manager talent, there are 14 managers in head coaching roles abroad, with only four of those in Europe (Oxtoby, Postecoglou, Montemurro, and Wehrman). It's simply not enough.

Names like Jeff Hopkins and Ante Juric, who have plied their trade in Australian women's football with many titles each are left to ponder the opportunity of coaching abroad without their UEFA licence acquired.

Both Montemurro and Oxtoby in particular have been pioneers in the women's game regarding the seamless transition from Australia to European success, and the consistent successes of the former will surely legitimise women's football more in this country and increase opportunities for the next generation of coaches who start locally and experience early success.

With this move, Montemurro also unfortunately rules himself out of the coveted Matildas manager position that he was certainly one of the leading contenders for. It was a story of poor timing with Australia's best ever women's football coach left to wait too long for Gustavsson to make way.

Montemurro also ended up on the final three of the shortlist in the USWNT's pursuit of a new manager with the Olympics arriving soon, however legendary Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was selected to take over.

However, it could be for the better, with Lyon's sky high expectations something that Montemurro will be very familiar with because of his time at both Arsenal and Juventus.

Lyon have won the French league 17 times in the last 18 seasons, making the league title the minimum requirement for Montemurro, who has really been brought on board to get them back on top in Europe after they lost to Barcelona in last month’s Champions League final.

Montemurro's move to Europe's elite is another step forward in his career and again showcases an example of local coaching success translating into roles in Europe, something that has not been seen enough for football in Australia.

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Sydney's historic Leichhardt Oval, home to the Sydney FC Women's team, will be receiving a $40 million upgrade to its facilities, ensuring the safety and comfort for competitors and fans into the future.

The $40 million investment will draw on the Inner West Council’s Leichardt Oval Masterplan and includes upgrades such as:

• New female-friendly change rooms.
• Increased seating capacity of 3,000. (20,000 > 23,000)
• A new northern grandstand.

The Commonwealth, State and Local Governments have formed a funding partnership to secure the future of Leichhardt Oval. The Commonwealth is committing $20 million to the project, with the NSW Government and the Inner West Council investing $10 million each towards the upgrade.

Leichhardt Oval required a big investment with the outdated, crumbling infrastructure becoming an issue for tenant teams and their local supporters.

The stadium is on track to host 120 sporting fixtures in 2024, including both men’s and women’s matches across various codes which underpins its importance on local sport in NSW.

Sydney FC Chief Executive Mark Aubrey expressed his excitement for the future of the ground and was also invited to be on the design phase committee of the project.

“It’s great to be involved in the design phase of the upgrade as we continue to build Sydney FC and our Women’s game, and work towards a stable home ground for Sydney FC’s Women,” Aubrey said in an interview.

“Our Women’s crowds last season totalled over 50,000 and our semi-final had 7,000 fans inside the ground which shows there’s a huge appetite for Women’s sport, so this injection of funds is very welcome.”

Sydney FC Captain Natalie Tobin also spoke during the announcement of the upgrade about how this will directly improve the women's game.

“These upgrades are long overdue, and the facilities will help female athletes perform better and increase the growth of our game,” Tobin added in a statement.

“It will help improve the growth of our Women’s game at all levels and increase our ability to impact our local community and girls football.”

Leichhardt Oval has become a hub and home for women's sport hosting the rugby league, cricket and football, and this upgrade is indicative of the long-term commitment by the NSW Government to increase the participation of women and young girls in sport.

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FIFA and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) have renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU), focusing on women's empowerment and education through football.

Since the first agreement which was signed in 2019, FIFA and the AFD will continue to supply resources to promote unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values through youth-oriented football development programmes, especially in Africa. They will also work on projects involving the protection of children and the promotion of access to sport through the development of infrastructure.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke about the renewed agreement:

"I am very happy that we will continue our strategic alliance with the Agence Française de Développement as it will play an important role in helping us use football as a platform for positive change in society- one of FIFA's strategic objectives," he said via media release.

"FIFA and the AFD have many shared aims and by working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of young people, empowering girls and women and helping to provide better education opportunities."

AFD Cheif Executive Officer Rémy Rioux added in a statement:

"This new partnership agreement with FIFA demonstrates our common desire to unite on the same team, the world football and that of financial development. Through its impact on education, health, social cohesion and gender equality, football is an accelerator in the field of sustainable development," he said.

"It opens a space where young people and communities are at the centre of the game to learn, express themselves, and emancipate themselves. By continuing this commitment, we are kicking off, through football, new educational and inclusive perspectives for all."

This continued partnership will allow improved collaboration between AFD's interventions and FIFA's programmes, such as FIFA Forward and Football for Schools, which aims to make football more accessible for everyone to play. It will also allow them to pursue their engagement in the inclusive sport academies project which supports the development of sport academies in Africa.

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Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) have published a new report on the Matildas and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup that showcase positive numbers regarding the growth of the women's game.

After a successful World Cup and a record-breaking A-League Women's campaign in many areas, this comprehensive report is a guideline to FIFA and the AFC on how to tackle the current problems and challenges.

The report presents four pivotal recommendations that they believe will significantly contribute to the ongoing growth and success of women’s football. These include:

- A-League Women Professionalisation

The report suggests that it is imperative that the A-League Women adopts full-time professionalism as soon as possible to allow players to maximise their potential and produce the next generation of Matildas.

It currently lacks in that department compared to the top European leagues and is under threat from falling behind.

The A-League Women's league has provided a crucial development platform for Australian football’s most successful, valuable, and powerful assets.

Every Matilda named in the World Cup squad had played in the A-League Women's competition, playing a combined 1,953 matches prior to the World Cup.

- Equal World Cup Prize Money

Prize money for the 2023 Women’s World Cup was one quarter that of the 2022 Men’s World Cup. FIFA has suggested it intends to equalise prize money for the 2026-2027 cycle, but it has added a caveat that this is contingent on commercial outcomes.

However, the PFA pushes for FIFA to start their commitment now in order to build a foundation that will breed marketing and commercial success rather than wait.

The evidence from this recent World Cup suggests commercial success and potential is there if the funding gets lifted to allow it to grow.

- Increased Club Solidarity Fund

The report’s third recommendation, an increased Club Solidarity Fund, is an urgent call to action.

The Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund for 2023 was US$11.5 million, just 5.5% of the men’s 2022 fund.

A substantial increase to the Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund for 2027 would provide a massive stimulus package to women’s football and unlock investment in the environments where players spend the majority of their time.

The PFA consider this to be an imperative move.

- Player input into Scheduling

As the women’s football calendar expands, the report emphasises the importance of including players in decision-making processes.

In the report, it suggested FIFPRO found that 60% of World Cup players felt they did not have enough rest after the tournament before returning to club duties. Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley played for Arsenal just 17 days after the World Cup final.

Ensuring player welfare and competition integrity will create a sustainable and thriving environment for women’s football.

In the Executive Summary, it outlined many statistics and facts to come as a result of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Funding

The tournament generated a significant amount of money for a range of stakeholders. Football Australia (FA) estimated the tournament provided $1.32 billion in economic benefits to Australia.

FA’s Legacy ’23 strategy unlocked $398 million of government funding for women’s sports facilities and programs, of which two thirds would primarily benefit football.

'The Golden Generation'

The home World Cup aligned with the peak of the Matildas’ golden generation of players. Fifteen of the squad were also part of the 2019 World Cup. The eight players aged between 28 and 30 played 59% of the Australia’s match minutes at the tournament. The data flags that there is a challenging period of transition on the horizon.

A-League Women's growth

A-League Women clubs have also benefited from an organic increase in attendances and memberships as a result of the World Cup’s success.

This includes holding records such as Average attendance, Total attendance, Most in a single game, and Most memberships in league history.

CBA Competitive Advantage

Nearly two thirds (64%) of the Matildas felt their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was a competitive advantage at the World Cup. The CBA guaranteed world class conditions in the four years preceding the tournament (equal to the Socceroos).

Great conditions

The player survey found generally positive feedback about the conditions, facilities, and environment during the World Cup camp.

The legacy and impact this World Cup has left this country is immense, with the numbers in the report suggesting many avenues like the future of the Matildas and the domestic league are progressing at an alarmingly high rate.

Conclusion:

The four recommendations made by the FA do suggest change is imperative and the product still has a long way to go before it maximises its commercial and on field growth but overall the report was quite positive.

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FIFA has announced several amendments to the current Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). These changes have been approved by the FIFA Council by May 2024 and have been brought into effect from June 1.

These changes are majorly focused on women and the impact that menstruation and pregnancy have on their careers.

A meeting of key stakeholders and FIFA members resulted in these new regulations advancing the women's game.

These include:

• FIFA female players and coaches can now receive a minimum of 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.
• A minimum of 8 weeks of paid absence for female coaches and players who adopt a child under the age of 2.
• Also, a minimum of 8 weeks paid absence from the birth of the child if they are not the biological mother (for example same-sex parenthood).
• Players are entitled to full remuneration if they are absent from training or games due to menstruation or pregnancy health reasons.
• There is increased support for female players in contacting families during national team contexts to ease pressure on children and mothers.

FIFA Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Emilio García Silvero has commented on the recent changes:

“FIFA is committed to implementing a dynamic regulatory framework that is sound and suitable for the increasing needs of female players and coaches,” he said via media release.

“In order for the game to further flourish, it’s key that we have a holistic approach towards player well-being, including the legal aspects.”

This is a huge advancement in the game's equality mission as FIFA has recognised and actively planned to ease the physical, psychological and social dimensions of pregnancy and menstruation for women athletes.

These regulations fit Goal 2 in FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027, which describe the organisation’s commitment to exploring and implementing further safeguards for player and coach welfare.

FIFA Chief Football Women’s Officer Dame Sarai Bareman outlined the importance of placing women’s physical health in the legal and mainstream dialogue of the sport.

“When you’re playing sport for a living, and in a professional environment, we have to factor in that the female menstrual cycle can also impact on your ability to deliver within your role,” she added via media release.

“So, it’s important that we protect … those that are affected by their menstrual cycles in a way that it doesn’t put at risk their employment situation with their club and, ultimately, their ability to earn money.”

This announcement shows the players are becoming the major stakeholders in laws and regulations around their welfare.

This is an important strategy for the equality of the game by making sure that women’s sporting careers are not put on hold or impacted by their natural body function or raising a child.

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The twenty-first AGM of Football Australia Limited was held on Thursday, 30 May 2024, at Football South Australia’s offices at ServiceFM Stadium via videoconference and in Adelaide.

The AGM coincided with the release of the Football Australia 2023 Abridged Annual Review.

At the AGM, members reviewed Football Australia’s Financial Report, which uniquely covered the six months ending 31 December 2023.

This transition period followed Football Australia's shift to a calendar-based financial year, aligning financial reporting with the operational season. Members also reviewed the FY24 Annual Budget and discussed the organisation’s activities during this period.

The Operating Surplus (Before Grants and Distributions) was at an all-time low for the FA between June 2023 and December 2023, with the value at $6.1m loss.

Interestingly, the report showed that $27.7m in total was invested amongst the national teams, with the Matildas getting the bulk of it at $13.45m. Socceroos were given $6.3mil and the rest was shared amongst National Teams support, Women's and Men's junior national teams.

An election for a Director position on the Football Australia Board was conducted as per the Constitution. Mr. Joseph Carrozzi AM, nominated by Football South Australia and seconded by Northern New South Wales Football, was re-elected for a term ending at the 2027 AGM.

Additionally, the meeting ratified Dr. Deidre Anderson AM as a member and Chair of the Women’s Football Council, an appointment that received unanimous support.

Following the AGM, the Board convened and unanimously re-elected Mr. Anter Isaac as Chairman and Ms Jaclyn Lee-Joe as Deputy Chair. Chairman Isaac shared his vision for the strategic direction and future ambitions of Football Australia.

"I am delighted to congratulate Joseph Carrozzi on his re-election to the Board, and I warmly welcome Deidre Anderson as a Member and new Chair of the Women's Football Council," said Mr. Isaac in his statement.

“Their collective expertise and dedicated leadership are pivotal as we continue to drive our strategic vision and foster growth across all levels of Australian football.

"In my inaugural Chairman's Report, I am heartened by the transformative journey we've embarked on since November 2023. The past six months have been crucial in setting our strategic direction toward sustainability and growth at all levels.

"Our Board has pivoted from short-term, transactional thinking to embrace a strategic, long-term vision, fostering a culture where trust, capability, and capacity thrive.

"This shift is supported by substantial investments in our systems and processes, aligning our operations more closely with the football season to enhance efficiencies. Moreover, strategic appointments like that of Gary Moretti as Head of National Teams underscore our commitment to improving performance and leadership.

"Looking ahead, we are committed to fostering collaboration and unity, essential for the long-term success and growth of Australian football.

"We aim to maintain a formidable, stable, and dependable presence, both locally and internationally."

The Financial report and statements by the board members suggest the FA are looking to strategically fund the national teams and build off the success of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that saw the Matildas and Women's football get majority of the investment.

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FIFA has joined in a collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to fund 16 global organisations through the Sport for Women’s Empowerment programme.

GIZ works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and has chosen the NGO LA Guilde to be the implementor of the financial support.

This programme aligns with the FIFA Women’s Development Programme and Germany’s feminist development policy, which is focused on sports-based approaches to gender equality and fits well with FIFA’s programme for growth in female football.

All these initiatives support the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The central theme of the programme is to demonstrate how sport would be used as a tool to combat gender inequality, tackle gender-based and sexual violence, or empower and strengthen the role of women.

200 organisations across 30 GIZ’s partner countries submitted project proposals.

From this, 16 were chosen - of which 10 are football-specific projects and 3 FIFA Associations are included. These organisations are spread across Africa, Asia, The Middle East, South America and the Western Balkans.

This is a huge enterprise taken by FIFA and GIZ to expand and fund the women's game internationally.

It shows the partnership potential FIFA has with organisations and investors that want to expand their programs into the sporting world and their popularity with international organisations and markets, especially if this fits into the positive empowerment of equality in sports within poorer communities around the world.

The 16 successful organisations are:

• Togolese Football Association (Togo)
• Football Association of Indonesia (Indonesia)
• Ghana Football Association (Ghana)
• ENGIM (Albania)
• Together Advancing Common Trust, TAKT (North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Bareeq Education & Development (Jordan)
• Permanent Peace Movement (Lebanon)
• Cleo (Colombia)
• Girls United Football Association (Mexico)
• Anahat for Change Foundation (India)
• Sudhaar Society (Pakistan)
• Action des Volontaires d’Innovations pour le Développement, AVID (Congo DR)
• Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo, VIS (Ghana)
• Community Forum Organization, COFO (Malawi)
• Demain Dès l’Aube (Togo)
• Association Togolaise pour la Promotion du Sport pour Tous, ATPST (Togo)

“We are very excited about the huge number of applicants; all of them organisations using the power of sport to improve gender equality in their communities,” Jens Elsner said via media release, Head of the GIZ’s Global Programme.

“I am convinced that the winning organisations will make an impact by reaching out to young people and letting them experience that change towards a more inclusive and equal society is possible.”

FIFA Chief Women's Football Officer Sarai Bareman added via press release: “FIFA is dedicated to increasing female representation and diversity in football, at all levels, on and off the pitch, and this initiative is a great example of how we can create more opportunities for women through collaborating with others.”

In total, the successful organisations list features 10 football-specific projects, four multisport projects, one rugby project and one volleyball project.

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Football Australia is currently in the final stages of negotiations to secure a record-breaking $200 million TV deal with Network Ten that will extend the current broadcast deal for four more years.

Reported by The Australian, the deal will be worth double the current $100 million agreement.

The deal will include broadcast rights to the 2026 Asian Cup women’s tournament that Australia will host, the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil as well as most Socceroos and Matildas games. Football Australia has also bought the rights to some junior World Cup tournaments in order to package them in the new TV contract.

There is no bigger indication of the lasting impact the Matildas have made since the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup concluded in August of last year.

Channel Seven reported that for the Semi Final against England last year, the broadcast reached staggering 11.15 million people nationally with an average audience of 7.13 million, making it the most watched TV program since the OzTAM measurement started in 2001.

Not to mention the fact that the Matildas have sold out stadiums 14 times in a row, including an incredible 76,798 attendance at Monday's Olympic send-off friendly against China in the cold weather.

Football Australia Chief executive James Johnson didn't publicly discuss the numbers in the deal but commented on the TV package itself and how the FA no longer relies on broadcast deals to survive.

"What it does ­strategically is it creates a one-stop shop for Matildas and Socceroos content over the next four-year cycle, and it is a creative way to come up with a new package broadcast deal," he said via press release.

"If you go back four or five years, we were very dependent on broadcast.

"But today you've got strong sponsorship and other revenue streams, like merchandise, the broadcasting for national teams only, and also ticketing revenue.

"We have more broadcast revenue that will pick up in (financial year 2025) and there's also new sponsorship deals like Milo, Coles and the new Nike deal that we signed at the back end of last year."

This deal is extremely positive for football fans, normalising free-to-air TV in an era where Australian's access to free sport is dwindling.

The impact of the Matildas and Socceroos producing good results in their respective World Cup's has given the FA a platform to surge growth at grassroots level and this record-breaking TV deal is the biggest indicator that the future is heading in the right direction.

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Football Queensland (FQ) have released their 2023 Annual Report which suggests state-wide growth in all areas and shows the strides it has made in its long-term strategic development across the state.

Football Queensland had a plan in 2020 to stabilise and grow its financial performances across the short-term future and were able to do that to full effect in 2023.

FQ delivered a record total revenue of $20,016,537 ($8.8m in 2020), and net assets of $5.3m, with a cumulative surplus of $2.5m.

In recent years, FQ has actively sought to diversify the organisation’s revenue streams by targeting growth in commercial income which this year saw an impressive 267% increase.

This placed downward pressure on registration fees which were reduced by nearly 30% in 2022.

As expected, a major influence in the increase of participation was the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup that inspired many around the country.

Football Queensland reported an 11.1% increase in state-wide participation post-FWWC23.

Football in Queensland is thriving, with 308 clubs and more than 300,000 players in 2023, the game stands as the state’s largest team and club-based participation sport, delivering significant social and community benefits both on and off the field.

For the first time ever, the Grand Finals of NPL Queensland and FQPL 1 Men and Women competitions were played at Suncorp Stadium which provided a platform to showcase Queensland’s top footballers on the prestigious stage.

As a result of this historic season, the digital broadcast reach and live stream viewership also experienced significant growth in 2023, particularly for the women’s competitions which recorded a viewership increase of 231.34%.

FQ have an ongoing commitment to promote women and girls in football, with dedicated programs and activations in place to reach their 50/50 gender parity goal by 2027.

In 2023, women & girls participation grew 8% on 2022 with a total of 31,239 outdoor club-based female players involved.

MiniRoos Club Girls growth was 5% with over 43,000 participants in 2023 providing an insight into how bright the future is in the state for women's football.

There was a 28% increase in female coaches in 2023 across all different levels with development a key target for FQ.

Futsal participation had a 28% increase as well with FQ cracking over 10,000 participants for the first time.

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci explained the encouraging numbers from the report and spoke on the future vision of FQ.

“2023 was another huge year for football in Queensland, as we worked to continue the momentum and success of the initiatives outlined in FQ’s 2023-2026 One Football Strategic plan which delivered a clear and comprehensive framework to foster growth of the game,” he said in a statement.

“Football Queensland has outlined our bold target of 50/50 gender parity in participation by 2027 and already in the first quarter of 2024 we have seen a remarkable 44% growth in outdoor female players.

“While we can attribute some of this success to the amplification effect of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, FQ’s strategic commitment and deployment of initiatives and programs in the lead up and post the event have played a crucial role in capturing and funnelling this growth in demand for our game.

“As we continue to record strong growth across the state and strive to meet the demands of our current base, it is absolutely critical that we as a governing body continue to advocate strongly for infrastructure investment in our game at a local, state and federal level on behalf of our clubs and participants.

“FQ launched multiple brand-new tournaments in 2023 to continue to strengthen the connected football pyramid, linking FQPL football tiers and maximising competitive opportunities for players, including the Kappa Pro Series and the expanded Mitre FQPL Champions League.

“The new futsal pyramid announced in 2023 aims to unify the delivery of futsal products, including the launch of the new Queensland Futsal Cup which provides further pathways for Queensland players to strive for national success.

“FQ’s ongoing focus on coach and referee support and development led to six Queensland match officials being named in the inaugural intake of the Football Australia Referee Academy, as well as the delivery of 223 coaching courses to over 2,800 attendees.

“On behalf of Football Queensland, I’d like to acknowledge the support of our Football Queensland team, Football Australia, State and Local Governments and our official partners throughout 2023, who contributed to a year marked by many historic milestones for our game."

There are plenty of positives to come out of a year that has shaped the future of women's football and participation in Queensland.

Queensland showed its ability to host the Women's World Cup and will get a chance again in 2026 with the Women’s Asian Cup in a bid hopefully to again use the momentum to surge participation growth and their financial stability.

You can read the Annual Report in full here.

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Football Australia have announced that the country has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 edition of the AFC Women's Asian Cup.

This decision followed official ratification by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee at their meeting on 15 May 2024 - held in Bangkok, Thailand - on the eve of the 34th AFC Congress after lengthy discussions. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan had expressed interested in hosting but withdrew from the process.

This will be the second time the country has staged the Women’s Asian Cup, having previously hosted the competition in 2006.

This tournament will feature 12 of the qualified AFC nations, placed into three groups of four with matches played in the confirmed host states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Australia co-hosted the record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 alongside New Zealand, with the Matildas making it to the semi-finals and have grown the sport exponentially over the past 12 months.

The success of Australian national teams, including the Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas, has led to a nationwide increase in football participation, with an overall 12% increase in 2023 and an impressive 20% increase already noted in 2024.

Football Australia is leveraging the AFC Women’s Asian Cup as a platform to further boost participation and develop the sport, aligning with upcoming international events like the Brisbane 2032 Olympics & Paralympics.

AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa explained the exciting decision to reward Australia another major women’s football tournament.

“On behalf of the Asian Football Confederation, I offer our sincere congratulations to Football Australia on being confirmed as hosts of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026,” he said in a statement.

"I am confident that we will see a more vibrant and competitive edition in 2026 in Australia where the unrivalled passion for the women’s game is so palpable and we wish the Local Organising Committee the very best of success in their planning and preparation.

“I know the Asian football family joins me in reinforcing our confidence in Football Australia to elevate the ever-evolving stature and growth of women’s football in Asia.”

Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac mentioned the benefits this will bring to the game in Australia.

"Securing the AFC Women's Asian Cup is a testament to our nation's dedication to football. It is not only a victory for the sport but for every Australian, offering significant economic and cultural benefits," he added in a statement.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the AFC, its Executive Committee, the Secretariat, and our fellow member associations for entrusting us with the privilege of hosting this prestigious tournament. We are committed to advancing the exceptional initiatives already established and delivered by the AFC and the broader Asian football community in women's football."

Football Australia confirmed its intention to launch a hosting bid in September 2022 and now expects the Women’s Asian Cup to generate up to $260 million in economic output and create over 1,000 jobs for the host states.

These states were chosen after discussions with state governments to ensure they are fully prepared to support the successful delivery of the tournament.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson expressed his excitement for the winning bid and upcoming tournament being played on home soil.

"We are profoundly honoured to host the 2026 edition of the AFC Women's Asian Cup. This decision reflects the global football community's confidence in our capability to deliver outstanding events. Following the resounding success of last year's FIFA Women’s World Cup™, we are eager to create another tournament that celebrates women's football and inspires a new generation," he stated.

The tournament dates in 2026 will be confirmed with the AFC in due course and training and venue inspections will occur in the coming months.

It remains an extremely exciting time for women's football in Australia, with the Matildas consistently selling out large stadiums, the growth of the Liberty A-League and now another major tournament on the horizon that is sure to boost the grassroots game as well.

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Female Football week is at its climax across the country with each respective state firmly involved in what has been a monumental year of growth and perseverance with one of the hottest topics amongst the sporting plethora across the nation.

Symbolising the significant strides in which female football has made down under, off the back of its maiden World Cup hosting tenure.

Football Queensland throughout the grand occasion were busy shining a spotlight upon the continuous growth of participation, encouraging women of all ages to become involved and immersed within the global game.

Football Victoria – Commentary

Football Victoria (FV) celebrated women’s football week in style.

Round 8 of the National Premier League Women’s (NPLW) competition within Victoria was unique throughout its coverage, with every match throughout the round featuring a female commentator.

A monumental feat spearheaded by the FV Commentary team, this was the first time an all female commentary round was executed.

Football Queensland

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci disclosed his appreciation for the momentous occasion via the FQ website.

“While celebrations like FFW serve as a crucial milestone in FQ’s journey towards achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 and helps to further reinforce our commitment to enhancing accessibility and inclusivity, our support is not confined to this week, as we remain dedicated to prioritising our female football community year-round.”

Football Queensland – Award Ceremony

Paying homage to Referees, Club Volunteers, Players and Community Champions of the year was conducted through awards up for grabs.

FQ showcased an award ceremony towards multiple facets of football throughout the state.

A nice incentive dedicated to the recognition and appraisal of the hard work undertaken by different areas of football.

The Female Football Week club of the year was awarded to Central Football Club following their extraordinary contribution to female football within Queensland.

Displayed throughout the clubs commitment to female football, the club are fully dedicated to the advancement of women's football.

Harvesting a fostering environment throughout the club, alongside the nourishment of young promising female footballers has been symbolised by FQ.

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Football Australia are strategically commencing a global search to fill four newly established leadership roles within its National Teams' set-up.

Reporting into Head of National Teams, Gary Moretti, the positions include:

General Manager – Women’s National Teams

General Manager – Men’s National Teams

General Manager – Football Data & Analysis

General Manager – High Performance.

The FA are underscoring its commitment on delivering national team excellence and believe these roles will be pivotal in the ongoing improvement of the game in Australia at the professional level.

Each role is essential for the development, management and the long-term success of all high performance and national team programs and initiatives in both the men's and women's teams.

Under Moretti's leadership, Football Australia's National Teams will operate concurrently with the oversight of the governing body's Technical Department, headed by Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick. Later this month, they will reveal a new 10-year Technical Strategy for Australian Football.

Upon announcing these additions to the National Teams structure, Football Australia CEO, James Johnson explained the additions to the National Team structure and what it means for the future.

"The realignment and increased number of specialised resources for our senior and youth national teams stem from a comprehensive internal review of our current high performance structure when benchmarked against leading football and sporting organisations globally," he said in a statement.

"We are a football first organisation, and this heightened focus and investment in our national teams is a reflection of our ambition. These new roles are designed to ensure everything possible is being done to deliver our strategic goal of being a leading football nation within the Asian Football Confederation and that all ages groups, men’s and women’s, are qualifying for every FIFA senior and youth World Cup.”

The recruitment process will be thorough and will be conducted by specialist recruitment firms to secure the most qualified candidates for these crucial roles.

It's a great proactive approach by the FA to ensure the future of the national teams is consistently improving and matching Asia's best such as Japan and South Korea who have fantastic national team structures in place.

Details of all positions will be available on the Football Australia website from Tuesday, 14 May 2024.

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Social football throughout Australia has acted as the sports backbone, allowing participants of all skill levels to remain involved within the sport.

Regardless of time constraints, skill level or external obligations, social sport allows for the everyday Australia to dedicate one particular time slot of their week to playing some football, usually in a team consistent of their mates.

In north Queensland, Girls United Social League remains a polarizing staple amongst the region, courtesy of its relaxed environment.

The newly founded social league within its second year of operations has continued to retain and attract women of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels into participation.

FQ Officer of Women and Girls Participation, Leah Gubb disclosed upon the FQ website how Girls United continues to pave the way for Queensland increasing their female participants.

"We have new players, returning players, young and older players. It really is for anyone who wants to have a bit of fun, get a bit of fitness in by kicking a ball around with some friends in a social and relaxed space," she said via press release.

How Girls United has aligned with FQ’s objectives

FQ remained open-ended in relation to the state football objectives, achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 is amongst the grandest of the state’s ambitions.

Girls United allows for a unique football experience, over the 10 week intervals across four terms throughout the year, the event is accessible for every participant given it remains open to all ages and skill levels.

The format consists of six players in each team provides another pathway towards achieving the 50/50 parity by 2027 goal.

25% of participant involvement within the outdoor sector has stemmed from Girls United in the northern region of Queensland in 2024.

Why Girls United is so Popular?

Not only has Girls United allowed for an increase of female football participation within Queensland, but also the contribution it has made towards the lifestyle improvement of its participants acts as the primary reason of its popularity.

The ability to exercise, relieve stress and congregate with a relative contingent of people who share the admiration for the world game is fundamentally a gleaming reason behind Girls United and its early success. Given the contribution it has made towards the support and benefit of women’s mental health.

State football governing bodies across the country may opt to use FQ’s current Girls United Social League initiative as the framework of executing a similar football format throughout each respective part of the country.

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This past weekend, Melbourne City played against Sydney FC in the 2023/24 A-League Women (ALW) grand final, as three players were watching their teammates from the sidelines.

This season, City’s forward Holly McNamara and Sydney’s defenders Natalie Tobin and Kirsty Fenton have all endured ACL injuries, sidelining them for six months to a year.

With the season officially ending, they were among six other footballers from various ALW clubs sidelined in the stands, bringing the league’s ACL injury tally to nine.

Similar to numerous professional women’s leagues globally, Australia’s premier competition has been notably impacted by what players have informally labelled an “epidemic” of ACL injuries.

Female athletes face a risk of sustaining an ACL injury during training or competition that is two to six times higher than that of male athletes, a statistic that remains unchanged despite the swift professionalisation of women’s football in recent years.

The absence of numerous prominent women footballers like Sam Kerr, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Leah Williamson, Janine Beckie, Delphine Cascarino, and numerous other internationals from major tournaments over the past two years due to ACL injuries, has not only resulted in significant loss of income for them but has also amplified the demand for action to address this issue.

The global players’ union, FIFPro has finally taken notice of this call to action.

Last week, the union unveiled an innovative program named "Project ACL," which seeks to tackle the various interconnected factors contributing to the heightened risk of ACL tears among women footballers.

Over the course of three years, the study will examine current research on ACL injuries in female athletes, evaluate the resources and support systems offered by Women's Super League (WSL) clubs in England, and introduce a proprietary digital tool to monitor WSL players' playing workload, travel commitments, and high-intensity match participation in real-time. This approach aims to generate more detailed and nuanced data on the situations in which female footballers face the highest risk of injury.

FIFPRO, the Professional Footballers' Association, Nike, and Leeds Beckett University have collaborated on a three-year project centred on England's 12-team Women's Super League (WSL).

While research on ACL injuries in women's sports is expanding, what sets FIFPro's program apart is its integration of academic studies, which have predominantly concentrated on internal biological and physiological factors in amateur athletes, with a comprehensive evaluation of the external environments in which players compete, train, recover, and travel in.

Similar to all sports, resources vary among clubs, with women's teams affiliated with larger, wealthier men's clubs likely enjoying access to superior resources such as qualified personnel, gym facilities, recovery centres and programs, nutritional support, and private or business-class travel compared to less supported teams.

Yet, the available research on these environmental factors is insufficient to ascertain their significance and identify which ones clubs, coaches, and staff can modify effectively to prevent future injuries.

FIFPro’s Head of Strategy and Research for Women’s Football, Dr. Alex Culvin explained in detail behind this innovative project said via press release:

“This research has never been done before,” she said.

“It’s a stakeholder-collaborative project, which also hasn't been done before: we have four big stakeholders [FIFPro, England's player's union, Leeds-Beckett University, and Nike] coming together to better understand ACL injuries, as well as the environments and conditions in which they occur.

"This project is a response to the players rightly calling for more research: it's around centralising the needs of players and their voice, but also moving away from the singular or binary understandings of ACL injuries.

"Pointing simply to 'workload' or 'female physiology', one of the primary objectives of this project is to understand the holistic risk factors, the environmental risk factors, and that fundamentally comes down to the conditions in which players play."

Enhanced and thorough research into ACL injuries not only provides players and coaches with increased confidence and assurance in their careers but also aligns with commercial interests. The burgeoning economy of women's football relies heavily on the performances of players who are among the most vulnerable due to their involvement in multiple concurrent competitions and escalating demands on their physical and mental well-being.

Quantitative data obtained from club assessments will be supplemented with qualitative insights gathered through anonymous interviews with players, including both those who have experienced ACL injuries and those who haven't. These interviews aim to delve into their everyday work settings, how they feel about the support they receive, match frequency, training intensity, and the interconnection of these factors in assessing injury risk.

The leaders of Project ACL define ‘success’ of this three-year study comes in many forms.

First, their goal is to shift the discourse surrounding ACL injuries to ensure that a player's various environmental factors are consistently taken into account, thus fostering widespread awareness and anticipation that these factors can and will be addressed discreetly.

Secondly, it is setting a precedent for cooperative research among diverse football stakeholders to pursue collective solutions that enhance the sport. This involves clubs and unions, typically in conflict against each other, collaborating towards a shared objective.

Lastly, and perhaps most crucially, FIFPro aims for this project to underscore the significance of placing players at the forefront of structural reforms and decisions, recognising that these changes ultimately have the most significant impact on them.

As McNamara, Tobin, and Fenton watched the Grand Final from the sidelines, the ambitious research initiative suggests that future players may not face the same elevated risk of injury in just a few years' time.

FIFPRO and its project partners intend to share their discoveries with all football stakeholders worldwide, including FIFA and regional confederations, to advance player welfare globally.

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Australia’s hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 has exercised a tremendous influence upon female football within the nation.

With female football week on the horizon, Western Sydney Wanderers (WSW) have confirmed their involvement with the newly established Kama Umoja Women’s Cup.

The Kama Umoja Women’s Cup will be competed against eight teams within a tournament format with the centre-focus of the event to drive participation within football for females of all ages who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

WSW have offered the use of Wanderers Football Park for the event scheduled to commence on the final weekend of October.

The grand nationwide occasion showcased a spotlight upon football and the extravagant female talent our nation has to offer within it.

Furthermore, it has allowed for females to have a vested interest within the sport, creating opportunities with participation culminating to an all-time high.

WSW have already quite the household name within Australian Football, synonymous within the state of Sydney, it is quite hard to ignore a club whom within their first two years of operations, had won the most coveted prize within Asian Football.

The business incentive undertaken throughout their latest hosting venture in partnership with the Kama Umoja Women’s Cup showcases the club giving back to its passionate community.

From a Sierra Leonean heritage - Kama Umoja Incorporated President, Philicia Kabia, expressed her excitement and why she decided to create this tournament.

"Watching the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year in Australia, I was able to see up close the celebration of women in sport, but it was much more than that,” she said in a statement.

“It also ignited a deeper fire in me to create those spaces for women and girls from African heritage here in Australia. Spaces and opportunities that I didn’t have when I arrived in this country and that I want to ensure the next generation have full access to.”

By hosting the tournament, the club are able to engage and create involvement within diverse communities.

The creation of meaningful and tangible relationships amongst these diverse communities can culminate in further club support and participation, while also growing the newly founded event.

Western Sydney is renowned for its diversity, as a club that embodies diversity in which it is mirrored by their decision to act as hosts for the tournament.

The tournament allows for the club to identify potential within the diverse talent pool of participants, coaches and staff, all contributing to the enhancement of the clubs long-term competitiveness.

The Kama Umoja Women’s Cup with the backing of WSW are at an formalized advantage given the nature of the Wanderers established culture. It is forecasted that the tournament will be a success, given there is a high ceiling surrounding its prosperity in becoming a key fixture on the Football calendar across NSW.

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Western Sydney Wanderers have launched a number of new programs and activities as part of their ongoing commitment to celebrate and growing the women’s game as part of Female Football Week.

The club have confirmed the launch of their first Girls Only Pre-Academy Development Program designed to advance the skills of players while teaching new skills and techniques to improve their game based on the club’s highly regarded coaching curriculum.

The Girls Only Pre-Academy Development Program will be led by Wanderers community coaching staff under the guidance of Head of Women’s Football Tom Sermanni and Liberty A-League head coach Robbie Hooker.

It is an extension of the Future Wander Women Program that launched in 2021 which gives 100 participants up to u18's a free program which runs as a 20-week block across Terms 2 and 3 of the calendar year.

On top of both initiatives, the Wanderers will also be re-opening registrations for their FREE Girls Only Schools Clinics which engages students through football to provide them with a positive experience.

Wanderers have been vocal about their commitment to making football accessible to all schools and students in the Western Sydney region.

Female Football Week also sees the club's FREE Active Mum's Program return, which is designed to encourage all women to participate in basic football skill activities in a social and supportive environment.

Active Mums sessions are run at convenient times for parents, in parallel with junior training sessions held at Wanderers Football Park.

Western Sydney Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson described the benefits of the Wanderers Female Football Week celebrations and programs for the local community.

“We are very proud to have such an expansive Women’s football program at both a grassroots and elite level,” Hudson said in a club statement.

“Female Football Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the role that so many women play in football at all levels.

“We are delighted that we can not only play a role in the celebrations, but also make a real difference to supporting the growth of the women’s game with a number for initiatives and programs.”

The Wanderers are leading the charge in the A-Leagues regarding giving girls and women the opportunity to train with quality coaches and develop their skills whilst keeping it completely free of charge.

It's a simple but brilliant program that marks another step for the Wanderers in the female football development space to actively engage, develop and support aspiring young players from the Western Sydney region.

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As the A-League Women's Grand Final approaches and season comes to an end, it is a time to reflect on a season of incredible growth and broken records.

Similarly to the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) post-2015 Women's World Cup, there was a popularity boost that translated into increased attendances and revenue for the league.

However, as the NWSL continued to rapidly develop, it seems as if the Liberty A-League struggled to consistently grow after a fantastic first round showing that involved a record-breaking 11,471 crowd for the Sydney Derby.

In the top 10 attendances of the regular season, eight feature games played before the new year despite the Matildas set to sell out a 14th consecutive home match before the Olympics commence in July.

The Liberty A-League crowd average is a little over 2,200 per match, which is a great benchmark for future growth but doesn't do the participation and momentum justice.

The NWSL is a great case study to look at, with the league being formed only 12 years ago in 2012 and its first season started in the April of 2013.

In its formative years, the NWSL averaged an attendance 4,270, with a high of 17,619. A decent foundation but plenty of room to improve in the world's biggest sporting market.

It wasn't until the 2015 season where the league was forced into a shortened schedule and some early-season roster instability due to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

The World Cup, which was won emphatically by the USWNT also provided invaluable exposure to the NWSL, which was credited with boosting attendance numbers across the league.

Instantly, teams such as Seattle and Washington who averaged 3,500 crowds per game were selling upwards of 6,000 to their next home game, an immediate resurgence.

So what did the NWSL do to fast-track growth using the World Cup?

Ticket prices

The NWSL, immediately after the 2015 Women’s World Cup pledged to keep the ticket prices consistent within teams, as it sat at $10-$15 USD (AUD $15-$23) across the league.

It was extremely cheap in a saturated and quite expensive US Sports market that allowed the league to use it as a point of difference.

It's a simple solution that Melbourne City coach Dario Vidosic hinted at for this weekend's Grand Final in his recent press conference.

Vidosic claimed that "If it was up to him, everyone would be let in for free for Saturday's final."

This is simply to create an exciting atmosphere that legitimises the league's biggest game of the year on a national stage.

Breakaway from Men's competition

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman made an extremely interesting point about the NWSL being its own entity.

Speaking to reporters at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit in London, Berman said the "superpower" of the NWSL was its "independence" - notably from men's clubs and leagues, which is not the case in Europe or Australia.

It certainly isn't an overnight fix by any means but allowing the A-League Women's to run separately from the A-League Men's, even if it is just ownership could provide a difference that attracts more fans.

Maintaining local star players

Even in it's infancy, the NWSL were able to show off USWNT stars like Lynn Williams, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan during their 'Golden Era.'

It collectively brought in more fans to the stands and increased the league's exposure in the mainstream media.

It certainly isn't as easy as that when the prospect of playing for more money and exposure in the US or Europe is a possibility now, but Cortnee Vine provides a great example of a star Matilda willing to be the face of the league to inspire young girls.

If the league are able to keep hold of exciting prospects like Daniela Galic or legends like Michelle Heyman for a few years, it would benefit the league greatly as an entertainment product.

Providing a great fan experience

There was an onus on the NWSL clubs and the league itself to make sure matchdays are an experience that brings fans back.

Two clubs in particular Angel City and San Diego Wave fans host tailgates pre-game near the stadium for anyone to join on top of other activations inside the stadium to connect fans closer to the team.

The WSW Women's team are a fantastic example of an effort to build support, with their Wander Women program, school clinics, fan interactions and their own social media channels helping them grow slowly but surely.

It's time the others follow suit in a collective attempt to maximise exposure.

To conclude, the NWSL used the 2015 World Cup as leverage to strike a quick deal with Fox Sports to broadcast 15 games for the rest of that season, cashing in on the national team's success.

Now it boasts the biggest ever Women's football media deal in history, with the recent four-year $240 million USD ($324 million AUD) domestic broadcast deal across four major streaming and cable partners.

It will be extremely interesting to see the direction the Liberty A-League takes before it renews its broadcast deal in 2026 as it simply cannot waste this golden opportunity it was presented.

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Football Australia has confirmed that New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia have been chosen as the host states put forward for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

The selection of candidate host states underscores Australia's position as the exclusive bidder for the event, supported by a recommendation from the AFC Women’s Football Committee in March and also the withdrawal of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan’s applications.

The final decision on hosting rights is anticipated to be approved by the AFC Executive Committee in May.

Building on the incredible triumph of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023, this bid seeks to maintain and amplify the economic and social benefits of significant women’s football tournaments. The event is forecasted to yield up to $260 million in economic output and foster the creation of over 1,000 job opportunities.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson highlighted the significance of staging the tournament said via press release:

“Hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 offers a golden opportunity to continue the dynamic growth and popularity of women’s football in Australia,” he said.

“Last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup laid a robust foundation, and we are eager to build upon this legacy to further enhance our football landscape both nationally and regionally.”

Johnson underlines the power of government backing.

“The backing from all levels of government is crucial as we tackle the surge in participation and the urgent need for improved facilities, this support is essential to maintain the momentum and ensure the continuous development of the sport across this country,” he added via media release.

“The Federal Government’s ‘Play Our Way’ Grants program is a welcomed initiative to address the community facilities gap.”

The achievements of Australian national teams, such as the Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas, have spurred a nationwide surge in football involvement. There was a notable 12% rise in 2023, and an impressive 20% increase has already been observed in 2024.

Football Australia is capitalizing on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup as an opportunity to elevate participation rates and advance the sport, aligning its efforts with upcoming international events like the Brisbane 2032 Olympics & Paralympics.

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