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removed bias, opinionated remark....added what football is called in australia
Cup competitions: the competition still runs, just as a different name
 
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{{Short description|Association football in Australia}}
{{Sport overview
{{pp-move-indef}}
| country = Australia
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2016}}
| sport = Association football
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
| image =
{{Infobox sport overview
| imagesize = 260px
| title = Soccer in Australia
| caption =
| boxwidth = <!-- set width of infobox, default is 22em. must add units afterward, i.e. "25em" or "250px", not "22" or "250" -->
| union = Football Federation Australia
| image = CG-MelbCricketGround-Pano.jpg
| nickname = Socceroos
| image_size = 270px
| first = 1880, [[Parramatta, New South Wales|Parramatta]], [[New South Wales]]
| caption = The [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australian national team]] playing at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], May 2006
| registered = 389,000 (total)<br>60,000 (adult male)<br> 6,000 (adult female)<br>323,000 (youth)<ref>FIFA Big Count 2000</ref>
| union = [[Football Australia]] (FA)
| clubs = 1,200 (12,000 teams)<ref>FIFA Big Count 2000</ref>
| country = [[Australia]]
| match = 95,103 - (2006) [[Australia national football (soccer) team|Australia]] vs [[Greece national football team|Greece]] (friendly)<br />55,436 - (2007) [[Melbourne Victory]] vs [[Adelaide United]] (2006-07 A-League Grand Final)
| sport = Soccer
| league =
| registered = 1,232,726 (adult)<br />632,249 (child)<ref name="participation 2023/24" />
| national1 = [[A-League]]
| noncountry = <!-- other country this country represents -->
| club1 = [[New South Wales Premier League]]
| teamlabel1 = <!-- overrides the "National team" label with custom label -->
| club2 = [[NBN State Football League]]
| nationalteam = [[Australia men's national soccer team]]<br />[[Australia women's national soccer team]]
| club3 = [[Brisbane Premier League]]
| teamlabel2 = <!-- overrides the "Representative team" label with customer label -->
| club4 = [[South Australian Super League]]
| repteam = <!-- overrides the representative team link, requires full wikitext syntax -->
| club5 = [[Southern Premier League (Tasmania)|Southern Premier League]], [[Northern Premier League (Tasmania)|Northern Premier League]]
| nickname = [[Australian national sports team nicknames|Socceroos]], [[Australian national sports team nicknames|Matildas]]
| club6 = [[Victorian Premier League]]
| first = 7 August 1875 in Goodna, Queensland.
| club7 = [[Football West State League]]
| clubs = 14,021{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
| club8 = [[ACT Premier League]]
| national_list = [[FIFA World Cup]]<br />[[FIFA Women's World Cup]]<br />[[AFC Asian Cup]]<br />[[AFC Women's Asian Cup]]
| club9 =
| club_list = [[A-League Men]]<br />[[National Second Division]] (from 2025)<br />[[A-League Women]]<br />[[A-League Youth]]<br /> [[National Premier Leagues]]<br />[[Australia Cup]]
| countryflag = Australia
| intl_list = [[FIFA Club World Cup]]<br />[[AFC Champions League]]<br />[[AFC Cup]]
| match = 114,000<br />[[Spain national football team|Spain]] vs [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]]; [[Stadium Australia]], [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics|30 September 2000]]<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Higham|title=Sport Tourism Destinations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZF3pPDn-QgC&pg=PA99|year=2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-7506-5937-6|page=99}}</ref> (National teams)<br />99,382<br />[[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] vs [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]; [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], [[2015 International Champions Cup|24 July 2015]] (Club teams)
| league = <!-- league audience record -->
| fan_org = <!-- fan organization -->
}}
}}

'''Association football''', also known as '''football''' or (proir to 2005) known as '''soccer''', is a popular recreational and [[professional sport|professional]] sport in [[Australia]]. The sport has the highest level of participation in Australia of all football codes. The fully professional [[A-League]] domestic competition has been operating since 2005 and the [[Australia national football (soccer) team|national team]] competes in the [[Asian Football Confederation]]. The national governing body is [[Football Federation Australia]] (formerly [[Soccer Australia]]).
In [[Australia]], [[Association football|Soccer]], also known as [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Football (word)|football]], is the most played outdoor team sport,<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia's most popular sport: Landmark study|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/football/2016/12/08/most-popular-sport-in-australia/|agency=The New Daily|date=28 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6123-australian-sports-participation-rates-among-children-and-adults-december-2014-201503182151|title=The Top 20 sports played by Aussies young and old(er)|publisher=Roy Morgan |date=19 March 2015|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> and ranked in the top ten for television audience as of 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/5488-sports-viewing-on-tv-201403140213|title= AFL is clearly Australia's most watched Football Code, while V8 Supercars have the local edge over Formula 1 |publisher=Roy Morgan |date=19 March 2015|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> The national governing body of the sport is [[Football Australia]] (FA) which comprises nine state and territory member federations, which oversee the sport within their respective region. The season in Australia is played during the summer, to avoid clashing with [[Australian rules football in Australia|Australian rules]] and [[Rugby league in Australia|Rugby league]] which dominant spectator and media interest there.

Modern soccer was introduced in Australia in the late 19th century by mostly [[British people|British]] immigrants. The first club formed in the country, [[Wanderers F.C. (Australia)|Wanderers]], was founded on 3 August 1880 in [[Sydney]], while the oldest club in Australia currently in existence is [[Balgownie Rangers FC|Balgownie Rangers]], formed in 1883 in [[Wollongong]]. Wanderers were also the first known recorded team to play under the [[Laws of the Game (association football)|Laws of the Game]]. A semi-professional national league, the [[National Soccer League]] (NSL), was introduced in 1977. The NSL was replaced by professional [[A-League Men]], in 2004, which has contributed to a rise in popularity in the sport. Australia was a founding member of the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] (OFC) before moving to the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC) in 2006. The main professional leagues are the [[A-League Men]], [[A-League Women]] and the [[Australia Cup]] however foreign leagues such as the [[Premier League]], the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] and the [[Women's Super League]] are also popular.

The men's and women's national teams, known as the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroos]] and the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Matildas]] respectively, compete globally. Australia cohosted the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]] with New Zealand. The Matildas finished fourth in that tournament (Australia's best ever performance at any World Cup, male or female), and the majority of Australians watched them play on television or at the stadium. It had a major impact on Australian sport, and the phenomenon is commonly known as "[[Matildas fever]]".


==History==
==History==
[[File:St kilda bfc.jpg|thumb|[[St Kilda SC (1909–1934)|St Kilda Soccer Club]] at [[Middle Park, Victoria|Middle Park]], 1909]]
The first recorded club was Wanderers, founded by a school teacher named [[John Walter Fletcher]] at [[Parramatta, New South Wales|Parramatta]] in [[New South Wales]] in 1880.<ref name="TimelineOfAusFootball">{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.shtml|title=Timeline of Australian Football|publisher=New South Wales Migration Heritage Centre, [[Powerhouse Museum]]|date=2006|accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref> The first game known to have occurred in Australia under [[The Football Association|FA]] rules took place the same year, when Wanderers played the [[The King's School, Sydney|Kings School]] [[rugby football]] team at [[Parramatta Park|Parramatta Common]] on [[14 August]].<ref name="TimelineOfAusFootball" /> However, the oldest existing club is Balgownie Rangers, founded in 1883, which still competes in the [[Illawarra]] regional league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balgownierangers.com.au/history/history.htm|title=Balgownie Rangers Soccer Club - Club History|date=2006|accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref>


===Early governing bodies===
===19th century===
An early match took place at the [[The Park Centre for Mental Health|Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum]], located in [[Wacol, Queensland|Wacol]] in suburban [[Brisbane]], on 7 August 1875, when a team of inmates and wards men from the asylum played against the visiting [[Brisbane Australian Football Club|Brisbane]] [[Australian rules football]] club; the rules of the match which clearly stated that the "ball should not be handled nor carried" was a direct reference to British Association Rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18337426 |title=Football. Fourth match of the season. Brisbane club v. Woogaroo asylum. |publisher=The Queenslander |date=14 July 1975 |access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref>
The early governing bodies of the sport in Australia had to distinguish themselves from [[Australian rules football]] and [[rugby football]], rival sports which had become very popular in the various Australian [[colonies]] during the 1860s and 1870s. The first inter-colonial game was played between NSW and the neighbouring Colony of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] in 1883.


A match was recorded to be played in [[Hobart]] on 10 May 1879, when members of the Cricketer's Club played a [[scratch match]] under [[England|English]] Association Rules, which were adopted by the club.<ref name="Mercury">{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8977261 |title=NEW TOWN V. CRICKETERS. |publisher=The Mercury |date=26 May 1879 |access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> The game was a return match to one played on 24 May by the clubs, under a variant of the [[Australian rules football|Victorian rules]]; to prevent the disadvantage faced by the Cricketers, the clubs agreed that that Association rules would be adopted in the return match.<ref name="Mercury"/>
The first Football (soccer) association was founded in [[New South Wales]] by John Walter Fletcher in 1882, as the South British Football Association (some sources refer to it as the New South Wales English Football Association. In 1898 it became the NSW British Football Association.)


The first recorded match in Sydney under the [[Laws of the Game (association football)|Laws of the Game]] was contested between [[Wanderers FC (Australia)|Wanderers]] and members of the [[The King's School, Parramatta|Kings School]] [[rugby football|rugby]] team at [[Parramatta]] Common on 14 August 1880.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" /> The Wanderers, considered the first soccer club in Australia, was established on 3 August 1880, by English-[[émigré]] [[John Walter Fletcher]]. Later, in 1882, Fletcher formed the New South Wales English Football Association (also referred to as the South British Football Soccer Association), the very first administrative governing body of soccer within Australia and one of the first to be established outside the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" />
In 1884 both [[Queensland]] and Victoria formed their own associations, respectively the Anglo Queensland Football Association (later to become the British Football Association in 1889) and the Anglo-Australian Football Association. The [[Western Australia]]n Soccer Football Association was formed in 1896; the [[South Australia]]n British Football Association in 1902; and a [[Tasmania]]n association about 1900.


In 1883, [[Balgownie Rangers FC|Balgownie Rangers]], the oldest existing club in Australia was founded; the club currently competes in the [[Illawarra]] regional league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balgownierangers.com.au/history/history.htm|title=Balgownie Rangers Soccer Club – Club History|year=2006|access-date=4 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824063128/http://www.balgownierangers.com.au/history/history.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 24 August 2006}}</ref> Later that year, the first inter-colonial game was played at the [[East Melbourne Cricket Ground]], between a representative [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] team and one from the neighbouring colony of [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|title=interstate soccer 1883| newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | date=17 August 1883 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13542233?searchTerm=&searchLimits=l-publictag=interstate+soccer+1883|publisher=trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>
The first Australia-wide body was the Commonwealth Football Association, formed in 1912, although this folded two years later.


As soccer continued to grow throughout Australia, John Fletcher's New South Wales soccer association gave inspiration to other states to establish their own governing bodies for the sport. In 1884, Victoria formed its own association, the Anglo-Australian Football Association (now [[Football Victoria]]), as did [[Queensland]], in the Anglo-Queensland Football Association (now, [[Football Queensland]]), and Northern New South Wales, in the ''Northern District British Football Association'' (now, [[Northern New South Wales Football]]). In 1896, the Western Australian Soccer Football Association was formed. In 1900, a [[Tasmania]]n association was formed, and later, the South Australian British Football Association was formed in 1902.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/football-south-africa-timeline-1862-2012 | title=Football in South Africa Timeline | access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>
===Effects of immigration===
While native-born Australians overwhelmingly played and watched Australian rules football or either code of rugby football, association football was highly popular with the various [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Southern Europe]]an immigrant communities, all of which expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s: [[Croats|Croatian]], [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Italians|Italian]] and [[Serbs|Serbian]] and communities gave rise to most of the largest clubs. At the time, the game served as a bonding force within those ethnic minority communities, and as a point of identity amongst them and the wider Australian community. A similarly increasing number of British migrants also retained an interest in the sport.


===20th century===
[[Johnny Warren]], who was a member of the [[Australia national football team|national team]] at their first [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] appearance, in 1974, entitled his memoir ''Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters'', giving an indication of how Warren considered that the wider Australian community viewed "[[wog]]ball" in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/history-post74.shtml|title=Australian Football - Post 1974|publisher=New South Wales Migration Heritage Centre, [[Powerhouse Museum]]|date=2006|accessdate=2006-12-04}}</ref>
[[File:H.M.S._Pysche_football_team.jpg|thumb|upright=1 |Association football (soccer) team of the 'Australian Squadron' of the British Royal Navy. HMS Psyche. 1910]]
It was not until 1911 that a governing body was formed to oversee soccer activities in the whole of Australia. The first such organisation was called the ''Commonwealth Football Association''.<ref>{{cite web|title=COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION|newspaper=Brisbane Courier |date=16 April 1914 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19961665|publisher=trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=18 October 2013}}</ref> However, this body was superseded by the Australian Soccer Association, which was formed in 1921.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football">{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.shtml|title=Timeline of Australian Football|publisher=New South Wales Migration Heritage Centre, [[Powerhouse Museum]]|year=2006|access-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118030040/http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.shtml|archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref>

Australia is regarded as the first country where [[squad number (association football)|squad numbers in soccer]] were used for the first time when Sydney Leichardt and HMS Powerful players displayed numbers on their backs, in 1911.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6EQC4vTUpGAC&dq=squad+numbers+australia+1911+football&pg=PA8 ''The Secret Lives of Numbers: The Curious Truth Behind Everyday Digits''] by Michael Millar, Virgin Books, 2012 – {{ISBN|978-0753540862}}</ref> One year later, numbering in soccer would be ruled as mandatory in [[New South Wales]].<ref>[https://mundod.lavoz.com.ar/node/624034 Así nació la tradición de usar números en las camisetas] by Gustavo Farías on ''La Voz del Interior'', 22 August 2013</ref>

[[File:Newzealand australia football 1922.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|The first Australia national team playing in game 2 against New Zealand during Australia's first ever tour to New Zealand in 1922]]
On 17 June 1922, the first Australian national representative soccer team was constituted by the Australian Soccer Association to represent Australia for a tour of [[New Zealand]]. During the tour the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia men's national team]] lost two out of the three matches against the newly formed [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand side]].<ref name="1922 tour">{{cite web|title=Australia Vs New Zealand 1922|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/museum/index.php/archive/129-australia-vs-new-zealand-1922|publisher=ozfootball.net|access-date=27 April 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Federal Woollen Mills, Melbourne Road, North Geelong.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|A football pitch used by the Federal Woollen Mills team in North Geelong, Victoria. Photo circa 1925/1935]]
After World War I, large numbers of [[British people|British]] and southern European arrived seeking opportunities in new industries across parts of Australia which led to establishing soccer as a major sport in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=The Story of Football in Victoria: Part 4 {{!}} Football Victoria |url=https://www.footballvictoria.com.au/the-story-of-football-in-victoria-04 |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=www.footballvictoria.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:AIF_soccer_game_at_Darwin.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|Australian Imperial Force play a saturday afternoon soccer game in Darwin. Signals versus Navy. 1943]]
A distinct rise in popularity in New South Wales and Victoria, among other states, was linked to the [[Post-war immigration to Australia|post-World War II immigration]]. Migrant players and supporters were prominent, providing the sport with a new but distinct profile. Soccer served as a cultural gateway for many emigrants, acting as a social lubricant. Soccer transcended cultural and language barriers in communities which bridged the gap between minority communities and other classes within the country, thus bringing about a unique unity.<ref name="Bloomfield2003">{{cite book| first=John| last=Bloomfield| title=Australia's Sporting Success: The Inside Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NtWto0T5FMEC| year=2003| publisher=UNSW Press| isbn=978-0-86840-582-7}}</ref><ref name="Tamis2005">{{cite book|author=Anastasios Tamis|title=The Greeks in Australia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DcAcG9FWs8C&pg=PA103|access-date=1 August 2012|date=30 May 2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-54743-7|pages=103–}}</ref>

The most prominent soccer clubs in Australian cities during the 1950s and 1960s were based around [[Demographics of Australia|migrant-ethnic groups]], all of which expanded rapidly at that time: [[Croatian Australian|Croatian]], [[Greek Australian|Greek]], [[Macedonian Australian|Macedonian]] and [[Italian Australian|Italian]] communities gave rise to most of the largest clubs, the most notable being [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]] (Greek-based), [[Sydney Olympic FC|Sydney Olympic]] (Greek-based), [[Marconi Stallions FC|Marconi Stallions]] (Italian-based), [[Adelaide City]] (Italian-based), [[Melbourne Knights FC|Melbourne Knights]] (Croatian-based), [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]] (Croatian-based) and [[Preston Lions FC|Preston Lions]] (Macedonian-based).[[File:Soccer-match-Bonegilla-Migrant-Reception-Centre.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|Game of soccer at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre. North East Victoria 1952.]]In 1956, Australia became a [[FIFA]] member through the Australian Soccer Association. Though Australia's membership was soon suspended in 1960 after disobeying FIFA mandate on recruiting foreign players without a transfer fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=hay-ourwickedgame-2006 |url=http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30015957/hay-ourwickedgame-2006.pdf |website=dro.deakin.edu.au}}</ref> In 1961, the Australian Soccer Federation was formed and later admitted to FIFA in 1963, after outstanding fines had been paid. In 1966, Australia became founding members of the Oceania Football Federation (now [[Oceania Football Confederation]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Cup Dream - Australian football timeline |url=https://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/worldcup/timeline.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au}}</ref>

Pre-1960s, competitive soccer in Australia was state-based. In 1962, the [[Australian Cup (football)|Australia Cup]] was established,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/auscuphist.html|title=Australia – List of Cup Winners|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> but its ambition of becoming an [[FA Cup]] style knockout competition went unfulfilled with its demise in 1968. In 1977, the first national soccer competition, the [[National Soccer League]], was founded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/NSL.shtml |title=Oz Football NSL |publisher=Ozfootball.net |date=2022-04-18 |accessdate=2023-05-07}}</ref>

Migrants continued to boost interest in and player for the sport in the 1970s and 1980s, especially from the [[Middle East]] and from the former [[Yugoslavia]].<ref name=africanplayers2021>{{cite web | last=Chalmers | first=Max | title=Football's A-League is lighting up with a new generation of African-Australian players | publisher=ABC News| series= [[Radio National]] | date=22 June 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-22/football-a-league-new-generation-african-australian-kusini-yengi/100225416 | access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref>

In 1984, the [[National Soccer Youth League]] was founded as a reserve and academy league to run in parallel to the National Soccer League. In 1996, the first national women's soccer competition, the [[Women's National Soccer League]] was founded. The National Soccer League and those for women and youth flourished through the 1980s and early 1990s, though with the increasing departure of Australian players to overseas leagues.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}{{multiple image
| footer = [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]]'s change in name and logo, removing itself from its Greek-ethnic ties.
| align = right
| image1 =
| width1 = 67
| image2 =
| width2 = 150
}}

Soccer reached notable popularity among Australian people during the second half of the 20th century. [[Johnny Warren]], a prominent advocate for the sport, who was a member of the Australia national team at their first [[FIFA World Cup]] appearance in 1974, entitled his memoir ''Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters'' (a reference to the [[Australian English vocabulary|Australian slang]]: [[sheila]], [[wog]], [[poofter]]), giving an indication of how Warren considered the wider Australian community viewed "wogball".<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" />

In the mid-1990s, Soccer Australia (the governing body for the sport) attempted under the Chairmanship of [[David Hill (businessman)|David Hill]] to shift soccer into the Australian mainstream and away from direct club-level association with migrant roots. Many clubs across the country were required to change their names and badges to represent a more inclusive community.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marketing Meets Multiculturalism: David Hill's National Merchandising Plan, 1996-97|url=http://leopoldmethod.com.au/marketing-meets-multiculturalism-david-hills-national-merchandising-plan-1996-97-2/|publisher=Leopold Method|access-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233358/http://leopoldmethod.com.au/marketing-meets-multiculturalism-david-hills-national-merchandising-plan-1996-97-2/|archive-date=2 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===21st century===
The sport experienced major change in the country in 2003, after the then [[Minister for Sport (Australia)|Minister for Sport]], [[Rod Kemp]], and the [[Parliament of Australia|Australian Parliament]] commissioned a [[2003 Report of the Independent Soccer Review Committee|report]] by the Independent Soccer Review Committee. Its findings in the structure, governance and management of soccer in Australia led the restructure of [[Football Federation Australia]] (previously Australian Soccer Federation, Soccer Australia, Australia Soccer Association) and later in 2005, the succeeding relaunched national competition, the [[A-League]].

The restructuring of the sport in Australia also saw the adoption of "football" by administrators, in preference to "soccer", to align with the general international [[Names for association football|name of the sport]].<ref name="football as soccer">{{cite web|title=Mainstream Aussie press finally adopting the term football as soccer seen as thing of the past|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/mainstream-aussie-press-finally-adopting-the-term-football-as-soccer-seen-as-thing-of-the-past/story-e6frfkp9-1226486030704|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=21 December 2013}}</ref> Although the use of "football" was largely cultural, as part of an attempt to reposition the sport within Australia, there were also "practical and corporate reasons for the change", including a need for the sport to break away from the baggage left over from previous competitions.<ref name="football as soccer" /> However, the move created problems within the wider community, engendering confusion due to the naming conflict with other football codes, and creating conflict with other sporting bodies.<ref name="Rosenberga2009">Rosenberga, Buck Clifford. (2009). "The Australian football wars: fan narratives of inter‐code and intra‐code conflict". ''Soccer & Society''. 10:2. pp. 245-260.</ref>

Australia ended a 32-year absent streak when the nation team qualified for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. The team's qualification and success in the tournament helped increase the profile and popularity of the sport in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Australian Socceroos at the World Cup|url=http://www.topendsports.com/events/worldcupsoccer/countries/australia/history.htm|publisher=topendsports.com|access-date=24 October 2013}}</ref>

The national team qualified for second and third consecutive [[FIFA World Cup]]s in [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]] and [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]; and placed second in the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]]. The joining of [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] to the A-League in 2012 saw a rise in interest for the league within Australia, particularly increasing mainstream interest<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Solskjaer, Western Sydney Wanderers and aspiring Bangladeshis |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p014knxv |access-date=20 April 2013 |series=World Football|network=BBC World Service |date=22 February 2013|minutes=28}}</ref> and re-engagement with disaffected Western Sydney soccer fans. Also, the formation of the [[National Premier Leagues]] in 2013 and subsequent restructuring of state leagues as part of the National Competition Review and Elite Player Pathway Review has paved the way for the development of the sport throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Competition review and Elite Player Pathway Review|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-9385-0-0-0&sID=269940&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=22266699|publisher=foxsportspulse.com|access-date=21 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FFA releases outcomes of National Competitions Review|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/ffa-releases-outcomes-of-national-competitions-review/47422|publisher=footballaustralia.com.au|access-date=21 December 2013}}</ref> The launch of the [[Australia Cup]] (then known as FFA Cup) in 2014 has also similarly increased mainstream interest and grassroots development.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In the 21st century, a major migrant group furnishing new players in the A-League has been the [[African Australian]] community, with 34 players making an appearance in the [[2020–21 A-League|2020-2021 A-League]] season, up on 26 the previous year. These include [[Kusini Yengi]] and his brother, [[Tete Yengi]], from [[South Sudan]], and their friends, brothers [[Mohamed Toure (footballer, born 2004)|Mohamed]] and [[Al Hassan Toure]].<ref name=africanplayers2021/>

In 2020, Football Federation Australia officially unveiled a plan called "''XI Principles for the future of Australian Football''", shortened as ''Vision 2035'', with the aim to restructure and expand football across the country, with the rebranding of the domestic league, establishment of a national second division, alignment with FIFA Domestic Match Calendar, restart and rebuilding of Australian football products (mainly by fixing the youth football development), reducing costs of football in the country, possibility of establishing promotion and relegation system, and expansion of women's football, with the aim to achieve the Vision 2035 for football in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/xi-principles | title=XI Principles for the Future of Australian Football | date=2 July 2020 }}</ref>

In summer 2021, Football Australia officials announced a series of major reforms: the shift in calendar by aligning with Domestic Match Calendar and to avoid clashing with FIFA days so it could help the Socceroos to compete; establishment of a [[Australian Championship|second-tier professional league]]; club licensing framework; domestic transfer system; as well a potential adoption of promotion-relegation system, expected to be implemented by 2022–23.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/final-model-major-a-league-second-division-meeting-set-for-june-565022 | title='Final model': Major A-League second division meeting set for June }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/soccer/australia-aus/story/4441281/football-australia-adds-national-second-tier-to-football-pyramid-in-calendar-restructure| title = Football Australia adds national second tier to football pyramid in calendar restructure| date = 29 July 2021}}</ref>

==Organisation==
{{Main article|Football Federation Australia|Professional Footballers Australia}}

Soccer in Australia is governed by [[Football Australia]] (FA) which is currently a member of the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC) and the regional [[ASEAN Football Federation]] (AFF), since leaving the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] (OFC) in 2006.

FA is underpinned by nine [[Football Australia#Administration|member federations]] which oversee all aspects of the sport within their respective region, including the organisation of state league and cup tournaments as opposed to national tournaments which are organised by FA. Member federations are [[States and territories of Australia|state-based]], although [[New South Wales]] is divided into a northern and southern federation.<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.northernnswfootball.com.au/index.php?id=4|publisher=northernnswfootball.com.au|access-date=31 May 2014}}</ref>

Former and current Australian professional soccer players are represented by the [[Professional Footballers Australia]] (PFA), a [[trade union]] affiliated with the [[Australian Council of Trade Unions]] and a member of [[FIFPro]], the global representative organisation for professional soccer players.<ref>{{cite web|title=FIFPRO – The World Players' Union|url=http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=69|publisher=pfa.net.au|access-date=31 May 2014}}</ref> The association tends to soccer players' pay and conditions, and also protects soccer players from unfair dismissal.


==League system==
==League system==
{{main|Australia soccer league system}}
The league system in Australia since 1977 has involved a one divisional league controlled by the national body and many leagues run within each state below that with no promotion or relegation between the two.


===A-League Men===
===National leagues===<!-- This section is linked from [[List of Queensland Roar FC players]] -->
The [[A-League Men]] was founded in 2005 after Australia's former top-flight national league [[National Soccer League]] was replaced. The A-League Men is contested between 12 clubs. The league covers the only competition controlled by the [[Australian Professional Leagues]] and the only professional league in Australia.
The [[National Soccer League (Australia)|National Soccer League]] (NSL) was established in 1977 and was the first national football competition in Australia, with teams in five states or territories. This league, and [[Soccer Australia]], were disbanded in 2004 and replaced by the [[A-League]] and [[Football Federation Australia]] respectively.


===National Second Division===
The first season of the new league began in August 2005. The average attendance (including finals) for the [[A-League 2005-06|inaugural season]] of 11,627 was significantly higher than the average of 4,119 for the [[National Soccer League (Australia)#Champions and runners up|NSL's final season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.qldfootball.com/content/view/155/1/|title=A-League Facts and Figures|publisher=Queensland Football|date=[[2006-02-08]]|accessdate=2006-12-05}}</ref>.
The [[National Second Division]] is the upcoming Australian second-tier professional division, and is expected to begin from 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thechampionship.com.au/in-a-nutshell.html|title=In a Nutshell|website=The Championship}}</ref>


===National Premier Leagues===
===State governing bodies and leagues===
The [[National Premier Leagues]] has 90 clubs, divided into eight divisions by state. Despite the organisational split, promotion and relegation does not take place between the [[A-League]] and NPL.
The following state and territory federations are responsible for administering local league systems, which sit underneath the [[A-League]]:


===State-league soccer===
*[[Football NSW]]
Below the NPL, is what is commonly known as "state-league". This refers to clubs outside of NPL, although they still play in organised league competitions for each state in the [[Australian soccer league system|Australian system]].
*[[Football Queensland]]
*[[Northern New South Wales Football]]
*[[Football Federation Victoria]]
*[[Football Federation Tasmania]]
*[[Football Federation of South Australia]]
*[[Football West]]
*[[Capital Football|Capital Football (ACT)]]
*[[Football Federation Northern Territory]]


===Cup Competitions===
===District soccer===
There are many district leagues and soccer clubs in Australia, examples include NSW districts [[Bankstown]], [[Blacktown]], Eastern Suburbs with their own semi-professional leagues with clubs from their respective districts.
There is currently no national [[FA Cup]] style knock out competition however each state, except Victoria and Queensland (who have regional cups), has its own cup competitions run by the state and territory federations. Some restrict the participants to only the top flight or semi pro clubs whilst others have more open entries via invitation or qualifying rounds.


==National teams==
===Youth leagues===
Many club sides have youth teams. The top level of youth soccer in Australia is the [[A-League Youth]], founded for all A-League Men clubs that have Youth sides. The league, which currently has 10 teams, is divided into two groups each with five teams. The winners of both groups contest the end-of-season [[Grand final|Grand Final]] to decide the league champions.


==Cup competitions==
Australia enters national teams into women's and men's competitions including in all under age competitions, as recognised by [[FIFA]].
There are several cup competitions for clubs at different levels of the soccer pyramid. The only major cup competitions are the [[Australia Cup]].


* The [[Australia Cup]], first held in 2014, is the only major cup competition in Australia. It is open to around 700 clubs in levels 1–9 of the soccer pyramid.
===Men's national team===
* The [[Capital Football Federation Cup|Federation Cup]], first held in 1962, is a [[Capital Football]] cup played through all levels of Capital Football teams.
The [[Australia national football (soccer) team|Australian national football team]] is nicknamed the ''Socceroos''. In early 2005 with the re-launch of the game in Australia as "football", the FFA expected the name to fade away, and for the team to be referred to as "Australia" <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Soccer/Socceroos-name-to-fade-away/2005/01/13/1105582652144.html|title=Socceroos' name to fade away}}</ref>. Nevertheless, the name Socceroos was still used by other parts of the media, and by mid-2006 the name "Socceroos" was again being used on the official website, programs and merchandise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=aus_fixtures|title=FFA Fixtures list}}</ref>
* The [[Waratah Cup]], first held in 1991, is a [[New South Wales]] cup played through all levels of teams from the NSW league system.
* The [[Canale Cup]], first held in 1894, is the oldest knockout competition in Australia and is played through Brisbane teams below the National Premier Leagues.
* The [[Dockerty Cup]], first held in 1909, is a [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] cup open to all clubs from Victoria in the [[Australian soccer league system|Victorian league system]].
* The [[Geelong Community Cup]], first held in 1981, is an annual tournament held in the region for local team across all levels of Victorian league system.


There have also been other cup competitions which are no longer run:
On [[16 November]] [[2005]], the Socceroos [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (play-off CONMEBOL-OFC)|defeated]] [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] 4-2 in a penalty shootout to secure a place in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the first time Australia has been in the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] since [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]. The Prime Minister at the time [[John Howard]], asked employers to turn a blind eye to workers turning up late for work the following day, highlighting the widespread interest in the match.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}


* [[Australia Cup (1962–1968)|Australia Cup]] (1962–1968) was for all teams from state leagues.
On [[12 June]] [[2006]], Australia defeated [[Japan national football team|Japan]]. Down 1-0 in the 84th minute, the Socceroos banded together for three goals in eight minutes, all by second-half subs; [[Tim Cahill]] (2 goals) and [[John Aloisi]], giving them not only their first World Cup goals, but also their first World Cup win.
* [[NSL Cup]] (1977–1997) was for all teams that participated in a season of the [[National Soccer League]].
* [[A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]] (2005–2009) had teams from the [[A-League Men|A-League]].


==Participation==
On [[18 June]] [[2006]], Australia was defeated by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]. The final score was 2-0, although the half time the score had remained at 0-0. The loss was to some degree expected because the match was played against the reigning world champions. Following this match, on [[22 June]] Australia drew with [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] 2-2 in their final group match, and qualified for the knockout round of 16 for the first time in history.
According to Ausplay in 2024, there were 1,232,726 adults and 632,249 children playing the sport of which about a quarter were female with an overall participation per capita of 6.9% making it the most participated team sport.<ref name="participation 2023/24" />


According to [[FIFA]]'s Big Count in 2006, a total of 970,728 people in Australia participated in the sport, with 435,728 registered players, and 535,000 unregistered players.<ref>{{cite web|title=COUNTRY INFO Australia (AUS)|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=aus/countryInfo.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626053650/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=aus/countryInfo.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2007|publisher=[[FIFA]]|access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> These numbers were higher than the equivalents for other sports such as [[cricket]], [[Australian rules football]], [[rugby league]] and [[rugby union]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/436122/ERASS_Report_2010.PDF|title= Participation in Exercise, Recreation and Sport|author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|year= 2011|publisher= Australian Government|page= 68|access-date= 22 March 2013|archive-url= https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20111012130500/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/77361/20111013-0005/www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/436122/ERASS_Report_2010.pdf|archive-date= 12 October 2011|url-status= dead}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2013, an audit on the sport by Gemba found that 1.96 million Australians were actively involved in the game as a player.<ref name="Football Federation Australia">{{cite web|title=Football participation reaches 1.96 million Australians|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/article/Football-participation-reaches-1.96-million-Australians/78074|publisher=[[Football Austral|Football Federation Australia]]|access-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113054839/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/article/Football-participation-reaches-1.96-million-Australians/78074|archive-date=13 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> When coaches, referees and fans are included it is estimated that involvement with the sport is around 3.1 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=3.1 Million people involved in Soccer|date=11 November 2013 |url=http://m.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/soccer-is-closing-in-as-australias-most-popular-sport-20131111-2xcg0.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=28 August 2015}}</ref>
On [[27 June]] [[2006]], Australia was defeated by [[Italy national football team|Italy]]. The matched ended 1-0 in favour of eventual champions Italy, and the result put an end to Australia's World Cup 2006 campaign.


{| class="sortable wikitable"
The Japan and Italy games were the [[List of Australian television ratings for 2006|top rating television programs]] in their respective weeks, and the Croatia game was the second highest in its week, despite the matches being broadcast between 11 pm and 5 am. However, the games were still outrated by other sport-related progams broadcast during 2006.<ref>http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/big-men-hold-their-ground-despite-crickets-mass-appeal/2006/12/01/1164777798898.html Philip Derriman, 2006, "Big men hold their ground despite cricket's mass appeal" (''Sydney Morning Herald'', 2 December 2006) </ref> The second round game against Italy was tenth on [[OzTam]]'s survey of the most watched Australian TV events for 2006. <ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aylsVZgGJP3c&refer=australia Nine Retains Its Title as Australia's Most-Watched TV Network</ref>
|-
!| Region/State/Territory
!| Overview
!| Adult players 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGU1YWFhZDgtMmRhZi00YTgyLThhMzItYjc2ODk5NTg0MTg1IiwidCI6IjhkMmUwZjRjLTU1ZjItNGNiMS04ZWU3LWRhNWRkM2ZmMzYwMCJ9 |title=Ausplay Football Soccer Participation by State |publisher=App.powerbi.com |date= |accessdate=2023-05-07}}</ref> || Adult players 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiODEzOWUzNmEtYTg5MS00NzIzLWE3YmUtYWE0Yzg1ZDM1ZTJjIiwidCI6IjhkMmUwZjRjLTU1ZjItNGNiMS04ZWU3LWRhNWRkM2ZmMzYwMCJ9 |title=Ausplay Football Soccer Participation by State |publisher=App.powerbi.com |date= |accessdate=2023-05-07}}</ref> || Adult players 2023/2024<ref name="participation 2023/24">{{Cite web | url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results#data_tables_br_july_2023_june_2024 | title=AusPlay results | first=Australian Sports Commission; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Sports | last=Commission | website=Sport Australia | access-date=2024-11-05}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|Australia}} National || || 1,143,640 || 1,157,050 || 1,232,726
|-
| {{flagicon|New South Wales}} [[New South Wales]] || [[Soccer in New South Wales|Overview]] || 440,470 || 477,174 || 471,480
|-
| {{flagicon|Victoria}} [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] || [[Soccer in Victoria|Overview]] || 250,613 || 243,956 || 227,213
|-
| {{flagicon|Queensland}} [[Queensland]] || [[Soccer in Queensland|Overview]] || 232,668 || 211,923 || 217,749
|-
| {{flagicon|Western Australia}} [[Western Australia]] || [[Soccer in Western Australia|Overview]] || 103,636 || 111,085 || 117,248
|-
| {{flagicon|South Australia}} [[South Australia]] || [[Soccer in South Australia|Overview]] || 51,601 || 61,705 || 84,263
|-
| {{flagicon|Tasmania}} [[Tasmania]] || [[Soccer in Tasmania|Overview]] || 17,984 || 15,522 || 14,594
|-
| {{flagicon|Australian Capital Territory}} [[Australian Capital Territory]] || [[Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory|Overview]] || 25,210 || 25,905 || 28,916
|-
| {{flagicon|Northern Territory}} [[Northern Territory]] || [[Soccer in the Northern Territory|Overview]] || 8,845 || 9,780 || 11,457
|}


===Women's national football team===
==Men's national teams==
National Men's soccer teams of various age groups represent Australia in international competition. Australian national teams historically competed in the [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]], though since [[Football Federation Australia|FFA]]'s move in 2006, Australian teams have competed in [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] competitions.
The [[Australia women's national football (soccer) team|Australian national women's football team]] are known as the ''Matildas'' and regularly qualify for the [[FIFA Women's World Cup]] and [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Games]].
The Matildas are widely acknowledged as one of the most improved teams currently in women's competition followed by their quarter-final showing at the [[2007 FIFA Women's World Cup]]; and are currently [[FIFA Women's World Rankings|ranked]] inside the top 20 nations in the world at 12, with 11th-ranked [[England women's national football team|England]] 17 points ahead.


The [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia national soccer team]], nicknamed the "Socceroos", represents Australia in international soccer. Australia is a four-time OFC champion, one time Asian champion and [[Asian Football Confederation#Team of the Year|AFC National Team of the Year]] for 2006. The Men's team has represented Australia at the [[FIFA World Cup]] tournaments in [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]], [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]], [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018]] and [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022]].
==Football variants in Australia==
===Futsal===
{{main|Futsal in Australia}}


In the Olympic arena, Australia first fielded a men's team at the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]] in Melbourne. Australia did not compete again in the Olympic arena, until the [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul Olympic Games]]. Apart from [[London 2012]], where it failed to qualify a team, Australia has competed in all Olympic Men's Football competitions since 1988.<ref name="AOC2">{{cite web|url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/sports/football|title=Australian Olympic Committee Sports: Football|publisher=[[Australian Olympic Committee|AOC]]|access-date=2014-06-16}}</ref>
[[Futsal]] activities in Australia, including the National Futsal Championships, are organised by a National Futsal Commission of Football Federation Australia.


There are also a number of national youth teams: [[Australia national under-17 association football team|Under-17 team]], nicknamed the "Joeys"; [[Australia national under-20 association football team|Under-20 team]], nicknamed the "Young Socceroos"; and the [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Under-23 team]], nicknamed the "Olyroos". The latter is considered to be a feeder team for the national team.
The following Futsal State Federations are members of the National Futsal Commission:


In addition there is a [[Australia national beach soccer team|beach team]], nicknamed the "Beach Socceroos", which represents Australia in international [[beach soccer]] and a [[Australia Paralympic football team|Paralympic team]], nicknamed the "Pararoos", which competes in international [[Paralympic association football]].
* ACT Futsal Inc
* Soccer NSW Futsal
* QLD Futsal Association Inc
* South Australia Futsal Commission


==Women's soccer==
''Note: Not to be confused with other forms of indoor football such as [[five-a-side football]] or [[indoor soccer]].''
{{Further|Women's soccer in Australia}}


The participation of Australian women in soccer was first recorded in the early 1920s.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" /> It has since become one of the country's most popular women's team sports. As with the men's game, the women's game in Australia saw a large expansion following the [[Post-war immigration to Australia|post-war immigration]], though it is only in recent years that [[Women's association football|women's soccer]] has gained momentum, with such factors as the creation of the [[W-League (Australia)|W-League]] and the success of the [[Australia women's national soccer team]] nicknamed "the Matildas" aiding the increasing popularity of the game.<ref name="Timeline of Australian Football" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Football women are in a league of their own on|url=http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/life_leisure/football_women_are_in_league_of_I4ddgPo6dSX6s0V2HnyRDM|publisher=[[The Australian Financial Review]]|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Women's football on the rise|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2008/11/15/womens-football-on-the-rise/|publisher=theroar.com.au|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref> In 2021 the W-League was renamed to A-League Women.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-28 |title=The W-League is no more — say hello to A-League Men and A-League Women |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-29/australian-football-leagues-rebrand-a-league-men-and-women/100499370 |access-date=2024-06-25 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Football in the media==


Women's soccer was added to the Olympic program in 1996, with Australia first fielding a Women's team at [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Sydney 2000]]. Australia fielded a team at the [[Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Athens 2004]] Olympics, but did not qualify for the final Olympic tournament again until [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament|Rio 2016]].<ref name="AOC2"/>
Pay television is the predominant outlet for both domestic and international football in Australia. Some games can also can be heard on local radio stations. The anti-siphoning list which controls what must be kept on free to air television in Australia includes only the [[FA Cup]] games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/LegislativeInstrumentCompilation1.nsf/0/DDCBE7E13B0C054CCA256FCD001DDF08/$file/BroadServEventsNotice2004_22032005.pdf|title= Broadcasting Services (Events) Notice (No. 1) 2004}}</ref>.


Australia cohosted the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]] with New Zealand. The Matildas finished fourth in that tournament (Australia's best ever performance at any World Cup, male or female), and the majority of Australians watched them play on television or at the stadium. It had a major impact on Australian sport, and the phenomenon is commonly known as "[[Matildas fever]]".
Following a [[Australian dollar|A$]]120million, seven year deal deal between the [[Football Federation Australia|FFA]] and [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]], Fox Sports will have exclusive rights from 2007 to all [[Australian national football (soccer) team|Socceroos]] home internationals, all [[A-League]] and [[AFC Asian Cup]] fixtures, [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifiers through the AFC, and all [[AFC Champions League]] matches.<ref name="historicdeal">{{cite news|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=aus_news_feat_press_releases_item&id=9956|title=Historic deal to secure Football's future|date=[[2006-05-03]]}}</ref>


In April 2024, the [[2023–24 A-League Women]] season set the record for the most attended season of any women's sport in Australian history, with the season recording a total attendance of 284,551 on 15 April 2024,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tu |first1=Jessie |title=Women's A-League games most attended season of women's sport in Australian history |url=https://womensagenda.com.au/life/sport/womens-a-league-games-most-attended-season-of-womens-sport-in-australian-history/ |website=Women's Agenda |date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History made! 🥳⚽️🇦🇺 The most successful season in Liberty A-League history has set a new benchmark for women's sport in Australia. |url=https://www.facebook.com/aleagues/posts/pfbid026jZEvemRaM4aYYbCn3c9ToRRrATbwMMGiGjW8Wojjh5Q5eyj1ZJbSkhfCBPJnFYnl |website=Facebook |publisher=A-Leagues |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women's A-League down to four contenders after first stage of finals series |url=https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2024/04/14/womens-a-league-down-to-four-contenders-after-first-stage-of-finals-series/ |website=Friends of Football |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=INVEST IN WOMEN'S SPORT. The Tillies effect 😤 In a record-breaking week one of the Finals Series, the A-League became the most attended season, of any women's sport, in Australia ever. Surpassing the AFLW 2023 cumulative attendance total for the regular season + finals series. |url=https://www.instagram.com/thefemaleathleteproject/p/C5wsDaORaqg/ |website=Instagram |publisher=The Female Athlete Project |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> and finishing with a final total attendance of 312,199.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thank you for making season 2023/24 of the Liberty A-League the biggest in the 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 🇦🇺❤️ A 127% increase on last year. Just incredible. |url=https://www.facebook.com/aleagues/posts/pfbid02As4uLdNQMiSkuWeaeC6kTBv926TMqJdQ5MSKihGd7TubKEstb4tFPMKj5UJDbiSfl |website=Facebook |publisher=A-Leagues |access-date=9 May 2024}}</ref>
Representing the most significant TV rights agreement for football in Australia, it is still relatively small compared to European football leagues, such as the [[English Premier League]].


==Stadiums in Australia==
[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] shows live [[UEFA Champions League]] games and retains the Australian broadcast rights to the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] and [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] finals.<ref name="historicdeal" /> Pay Television stations ([[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]], [[ESPN]] and [[Setanta Sports|Setanta]]) also show [[FA Premier League|English]], [[Scottish Premier League|Scottish]], [[Bundesliga (football)|German]], [[Eredivisie|Dutch]] and Spanish leagues.
{{further|List of soccer stadiums in Australia}}


The [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] is the largest stadium in the country with a capacity of 100,000. It is owned by the [[Victorian Government]] and stages some of Australia's home matches. [[Stadium Australia]] is the largest stadium with a rectangular configuration, followed by [[Docklands Stadium]] and [[Lang Park]].
The [[Australian Media Football League|AMFL]] is the Sydney based social football competition for media groups. [http://www.amfl.net.au AMFL Australian Media Football League]


==References==
==Variations==
{{Further|Futsal in Australia}}


[[Futsal]], an indoor variant of soccer, was introduced in Australia in the early 1970s and soon gained popularity after a wet period during the winter football season forced players indoors where they took up the new sport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Futsalroos History|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/futsalroos/history|publisher=[[Football Federation Australia]]|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of Futsal|url=http://www.aussieindoorsports.com.au/company-profile/history-of-futsal/|publisher=aussieindoorsports.com.au|access-date=25 January 2014}}</ref>
{{reflist}}


==Media coverage==
{{fb start}}
Pay television is the predominant outlet for both domestic and international soccer in Australia. Some games can also be heard on local radio stations. The [[Anti-siphoning laws in Australia|anti-siphoning list]] which controls what must be kept on free to air television in Australia includes only specific international matches, including all matches at the [[FIFA World Cup]] and [[FIFA Women's World Cup]] featuring Australia as well as both the [[FIFA World Cup Final]] and the [[FIFA Women's World Cup Final]].

In 2007, a [[Australian dollar|A$]]120 million, seven-year broadcasting deal between FFA and [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports Australia]] gave the subscription television exclusive rights to all [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] internationals, all [[A-League]] and [[AFC Asian Cup]] fixtures, [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifiers through the [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]], and all [[AFC Champions League]] matches.<ref name="historicdeal">{{cite news|url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=aus_news_feat_press_releases_item&id=9956|title=Historic deal to secure Football's future|date=3 May 2006}}</ref> In 2013, FFA signed a joint [[Australian dollar|A$]]160 million, four-year deal with Fox Sports and [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] for the A-League.<ref name="Fox/SBS A-League">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/11/sbs-fox-sports-in-broadcasting-deal-with-ffa.html|title=SBS / FOX Sports in broadcasting deal with FFA|date=19 November 2012 |publisher=tvtonight.com.au|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> SBS would show a delayed simulcast for the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-06-11 |title=2018 FIFA World Cup: Socceroos qualifiers on SBS {{!}} TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/06/2018-fifa-world-cup-socceroos-qualifiers-on-sbs.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=tvtonight.com.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> before the Nine Network broadcast the live simulcast rights for the third round and intercontinental play-offs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nine Strikes Deal To Broadcast Socceroos |url=https://www.nineforbrands.com.au/media-release/nine-strikes-deal-to-broadcast-socceroos/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Nine for Brands |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2017, Fox Sports renewed its deal with FFA for a further six years, with [[Network 10]] simulcasting one A-League match each week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-01 |title=A-League broadcast deal: Channel Ten, Fox Sports to take Australian football to more fans than ever |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/aleague-broadcast-deal-channel-ten-fox-sports-to-take-australian-football-to-more-fans-than-ever/news-story/f7bab99f30a4657f18828ea6333a57d4 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref> [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]] would later receive the simulcast rights for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=KEEPUP |date=2019-10-03 |title=ABC TV becomes Free-to-Air Broadcast Partner of the Hyundai A-League |url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/abc-tv-becomes-free-air-broadcast-partner-hyundai-a-league-westfield-w-league-caltex-socceroos/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=A-Leagues |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2020, Fox Sports terminated its contract following financial losses from the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samios |first=Vince Rugari, Zoe |date=2020-06-18 |title=Fox terminates A-League deal but could still show rest of season |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/fox-sports-reviewing-ffa-deal-after-taking-down-a-league-content-20200618-p553sg.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> [[Paramount+]] currently holds the broadcasting rights for the [[A-Leagues]] and AFC Champions League competitions until the end of the 2025/26 season,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football needs to be more accessible for fans in Australia - improved A-League broadcast deal vital for growth |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/05/23/football-needs-to-be-more-accessible-for-fans-in-australia-therefore-an-improved-a-league-broadcast-deal-is-vital-for-growth/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Roar |language=en-US}}</ref> along with all Socceroos and Matildas matches until 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaspan |first=Vince Rugari, Calum |date=2024-08-27 |title=Matildas, Socceroos to remain on Network 10 for next five years |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/matildas-socceroos-to-remain-on-network-10-for-next-five-years-20240827-p5k5n2.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Network 10 currently holds simulcast rights for some matches.

Since 1986, SBS has been the official Australian broadcast rights holder for the [[FIFA World Cup]], and the television network will continue to hold the rights to the competition until 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SBS remains home of the FIFA World Cup™, secures exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026™ rights |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/fifa-world-cup-2026/article/sbs-remains-home-of-the-fifa-world-cup-secures-exclusive-fifa-world-cup-2026-rights/kaoi12hhk |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=SBS Sport |language=en}}</ref> The [[Nine Network]] broadcast sixteen matches of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], including exclusive coverage of the final, and would also have shown all Australian matches had the Socceroos qualified.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-06-20 |title=SBS always on the ball |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/sbs-always-on-the-ball-20020620-gduba8.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> Similarly, [[Optus Sport]] briefly held exclusive rights to every game of the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] before relinquishing them to SBS due to technical issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duke |first=Jennifer |date=2018-06-28 |title=After Optus Sport fail, SBS to simulcast rest of 2018 World Cup |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/after-optus-sport-fail-sbs-to-simulcast-rest-of-2018-world-cup-20180628-p4zoaf.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

[[Optus Sport]] is Australia's primary broadcaster of foreign soccer leagues such as the [[Premier League]] and the [[Women's Super League]], along with the [[UEFA European Championship]] and [[UEFA European Championship qualifying|UEFA European Qualifiers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Samios |first=Vince Rugari, Zoe |date=2021-11-18 |title=Optus Sport spends $600m to retain Premier League rights until 2028 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/six-more-years-optus-sport-retains-premier-league-rights-until-2028-20211119-p59aaz.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> From 2016 to 2019, SBS held simulcast rights to one Premier League game per round.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SBS strike EPL deal with Optus |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/sbs-strike-epl-deal-with-optus/oqmwdyopx |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=SBS Sport |language=en}}</ref> [[Stan (streaming service)|Stan Sport]], which the Nine Network owns, holds the broadcast rights to the [[UEFA Champions League]], [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] and [[UEFA Conference League|Conference League]] competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=Stan strikes new Champions League rights deal |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/stan-strikes-new-champions-league-rights-deal-20230509-p5d6xj |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref>

==Support==
Soccer is a widely supported sport in Australia, with most Australians following the Socceroos and the Matildas. Many Australians also follow an A-League club and/or other foreign clubs, most commonly English clubs that play in either the [[Premier League]] or the [[EFL Championship|Championship]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Many Australians, male and female, play for foreign clubs. The majority of both Socceroos and Matildas players play for clubs outside Australia, mostly for clubs in England. As of the [[2024–25 Women's Super League|2024–25 season]], [[List of foreign Women's Super League players#Australia|fourteen Australians]] play in the [[Women's Super League]] (WSL),<ref>https://sport.optus.com.au/news/womens-super-league/os71856/matildas-wsl-australians-14-2023-24-season-foord-fowler-kerr</ref> with [[List of foreign Premier League players#Asia (AFC)|two]] in the Premier League.

[[Ange Postecoglou]] is the first ever Australian to manage a Premier League club, having managed [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] since 2023. He has heavily contributed to the club's rising popularity in Australia.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Most supported clubs===

====A-League====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" | [[Roy Morgan Research]] (2023)<ref>https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9248-a-league-supporter-ladder-2023-002</ref>
|-
! Club
! Supporters
|-
| [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]]
| 401,000
|-
| [[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
| 595,000
|-
| [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]]
| 177,000
|-
| [[Macarthur FC|Macarthur]]
| 69,000
|-
| [[Melbourne City FC|Melbourne City]]
| 281,000
|-
| [[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]
| 590,000
|-
| [[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle Jets]]
| 207,000
|-
| [[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]]
| 441,000
|-
| [[Sydney FC]]
| 693,000
|-
| [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]]
| 59,000
|-
| [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]]
| 238,000
|-
| [[Western United FC|Western United]]
| 66,000
|}

====Premier League====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" | Online survey ([[Reddit]], 2024)<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAustralian/comments/1fspuxd/most_popular_premier_league_club_in_australia/</ref>
|-
! Club
! %
|-
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| 17.2%
|-
| [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| 6.9%
|-
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| 5.2%
|-
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| 19.0%
|-
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| 5.2%
|-
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| 6.9%
|-
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| 20.7%
|-
| Other
| 18.9%
|}

==Seasons in Australian soccer==
The following articles are an incomplete list of Seasons in Soccer in Australia since 1884. Each article covers the leagues and competitions played that season, as well as games played by all national teams during that period. National soccer in Australia was not played until the [[1962 in Australian soccer|1962 season]] as the first 78 seasons only played regional soccer.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''1880s'''
|
|
|
|
|[[1884 in Australian soccer|1884]]
|[[1885 in Australian soccer|1885]]
|1886
|[[1887 in Australian soccer|1887]]
|[[1888 in Australian soccer|1888]]
|[[1889 in Australian soccer|1889]]
|-
|'''1890s'''
|[[1890 in Australian soccer|1890]]
|[[1891 in Australian soccer|1891]]
|[[1892 in Australian soccer|1892]]
|[[1893 in Australian soccer|1893]]
|[[1894 in Australian soccer|1894]]
|[[1895 in Australian soccer|1895]]
|[[1896 in Australian soccer|1896]]
|[[1897 in Australian soccer|1897]]
|[[1898 in Australian soccer|1898]]
|[[1899 in Australian soccer|1899]]
|-
|'''1900s'''
|[[1900 in Australian soccer|1900]]
|[[1901 in Australian soccer|1901]]
|[[1902 in Australian soccer|1902]]
|[[1903 in Australian soccer|1903]]
|[[1904 in Australian soccer|1904]]
|[[1905 in Australian soccer|1905]]
|[[1906 in Australian soccer|1906]]
|[[1907 in Australian soccer|1907]]
|[[1908 in Australian soccer|1908]]
|[[1909 in Australian soccer|1909]]
|-
|'''1910s'''
|[[1910 in Australian soccer|1910]]
|[[1911 in Australian soccer|1911]]
|[[1912 in Australian soccer|1912]]
|[[1913 in Australian soccer|1913]]
|[[1914 in Australian soccer|1914]]
|[[1915 in Australian soccer|1915]]
|[[1916 in Australian soccer|1916]]
|[[1917 in Australian soccer|1917]]
|[[1918 in Australian soccer|1918]]
|[[1919 in Australian soccer|1919]]
|-
|'''1920s'''
|[[1920 in Australian soccer|1920]]
|[[1921 in Australian soccer|1921]]
|[[1922 in Australian soccer|1922]]
|[[1923 in Australian soccer|1923]]
|[[1924 in Australian soccer|1924]]
|[[1925 in Australian soccer|1925]]
|[[1926 in Australian soccer|1926]]
|[[1927 in Australian soccer|1927]]
|[[1928 in Australian soccer|1928]]
|[[1929 in Australian soccer|1929]]
|-
|'''1930s'''
|[[1930 in Australian soccer|1930]]
|[[1931 in Australian soccer|1931]]
|[[1932 in Australian soccer|1932]]
|[[1933 in Australian soccer|1933]]
|[[1934 in Australian soccer|1934]]
|[[1935 in Australian soccer|1935]]
|[[1936 in Australian soccer|1936]]
|[[1937 in Australian soccer|1937]]
|[[1938 in Australian soccer|1938]]
|[[1939 in Australian soccer|1939]]
|-
|'''1940s'''
|[[1940 in Australian soccer|1940]]
|[[1941 in Australian soccer|1941]]
|[[1942 in Australian soccer|1942]]
|[[1943 in Australian soccer|1943]]
|[[1944 in Australian soccer|1944]]
|[[1945 in Australian soccer|1945]]
|[[1946 in Australian soccer|1946]]
|[[1947 in Australian soccer|1947]]
|[[1948 in Australian soccer|1948]]
|[[1949 in Australian soccer|1949]]
|-
|'''1950s'''
|[[1950 in Australian soccer|1950]]
|[[1951 in Australian soccer|1951]]
|[[1952 in Australian soccer|1952]]
|[[1953 in Australian soccer|1953]]
|[[1954 in Australian soccer|1954]]
|[[1955 in Australian soccer|1955]]
|[[1956 in Australian soccer|1956]]
|[[1957 in Australian soccer|1957]]
|[[1958 in Australian soccer|1958]]
|[[1959 in Australian soccer|1959]]
|-
|'''1960s'''
|[[1960 in Australian soccer|1960]]
|[[1961 in Australian soccer|1961]]
|[[1962 in Australian soccer|1962]]
|[[1963 in Australian soccer|1963]]
|[[1964 in Australian soccer|1964]]
|[[1965 in Australian soccer|1965]]
|[[1966 in Australian soccer|1966]]
|[[1967 in Australian soccer|1967]]
|[[1968 in Australian soccer|1968]]
|[[1969 in Australian soccer|1969]]
|-
|'''1970s'''
|[[1970 in Australian soccer|1970]]
|[[1971 in Australian soccer|1971]]
|[[1972 in Australian soccer|1972]]
|[[1973 in Australian soccer|1973]]
|[[1974 in Australian soccer|1974]]
|[[1975 in Australian soccer|1975]]
|[[1976 in Australian soccer|1976]]
|[[1977 in Australian soccer|1977]]
|[[1978 in Australian soccer|1978]]
|[[1979 in Australian soccer|1979]]
|-
|'''1980s'''
|[[1980 in Australian soccer|1980]]
|[[1981 in Australian soccer|1981]]
|[[1982 in Australian soccer|1982]]
|[[1983 in Australian soccer|1983]]
|[[1984 in Australian soccer|1984]]
|[[1985 in Australian soccer|1985]]
|[[1986 in Australian soccer|1986]]
|[[1987 in Australian soccer|1987]]
|[[1988 in Australian soccer|1988]]
|[[1989 in Australian soccer|1989]] / [[1989–90 in Australian soccer|1989&ndash;90]]
|-
|'''1990s'''
|[[1990–91 in Australian soccer|1990&ndash;91]]
|[[1991–92 in Australian soccer|1991&ndash;92]]
|[[1992–93 in Australian soccer|1992&ndash;93]]
|[[1993–94 in Australian soccer|1993&ndash;94]]
|[[1994–95 in Australian soccer|1994&ndash;95]]
|[[1995–96 in Australian soccer|1995&ndash;96]]
|[[1996–97 in Australian soccer|1996&ndash;97]]
|[[1997–98 in Australian soccer|1997&ndash;98]]
|[[1998–99 in Australian soccer|1998&ndash;99]]
|[[1999–2000 in Australian soccer|1999&ndash;2000]]
|-
|'''2000s'''
|[[2000–01 in Australian soccer|2000&ndash;01]]
|[[2001–02 in Australian soccer|2001&ndash;02]]
|[[2002–03 in Australian soccer|2002&ndash;03]]
|[[2003–04 in Australian soccer|2003&ndash;04]]
|[[2004–05 in Australian soccer|2004&ndash;05]]
|[[2005–06 in Australian soccer|2005&ndash;06]]
|[[2006–07 in Australian soccer|2006&ndash;07]]
|[[2007–08 in Australian soccer|2007&ndash;08]]
|[[2008–09 in Australian soccer|2008&ndash;09]]
|[[2009–10 in Australian soccer|2009&ndash;10]]
|-
|'''2010s'''
|[[2010–11 in Australian soccer|2010&ndash;11]]
|[[2011–12 in Australian soccer|2011&ndash;12]]
|[[2012–13 in Australian soccer|2012&ndash;13]]
|[[2013–14 in Australian soccer|2013&ndash;14]]
|[[2014–15 in Australian soccer|2014&ndash;15]]
|[[2015–16 in Australian soccer|2015&ndash;16]]
|[[2016–17 in Australian soccer|2016&ndash;17]]
|[[2017–18 in Australian soccer|2017&ndash;18]]
|[[2018–19 in Australian soccer|2018&ndash;19]]
|[[2019–20 in Australian soccer|2019&ndash;20]]
|-
|'''2020s'''
|[[2020–21 in Australian soccer|2020&ndash;21]]
|[[2021–22 in Australian soccer|2021&ndash;22]]
|[[2022–23 in Australian soccer|2022&ndash;23]]
|[[2023–24 in Australian soccer|2023&ndash;24]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

===Seasons in Top Flight{{clarify|date=May 2022}}===
53 teams have taken part in 47 [[National Soccer League]] and A-League seasons that have been played from the [[1977 National Soccer League|1977 season]] until the [[2023–24 A-League Men|2023–24 season]]. The teams in bold compete in the A-League Men currently.

{{div col}}
* '''30''' seasons: '''[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]'''<ref>Competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 to 1986 and 1988 as Brisbane Lions</ref>
* '''28''' seasons: [[Marconi Stallions FC|Marconi Stallions]], [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]]
* '''27''' seasons: [[Adelaide City FC|Adelaide City]], '''[[Perth Glory FC|Perth Glory]]''', [[Sydney Olympic FC|Sydney Olympic]]
* '''23''' seasons: '''[[Newcastle Jets FC|Newcastle United Jets]]''', [[Wollongong Wolves FC|Wollongong Wolves]]
* '''21''' seasons: [[Melbourne Knights FC|Melbourne Knights]], [[Sydney United 58 FC|Sydney United]]
* '''20''' seasons: '''[[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]]'''
* '''19''' seasons: '''[[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]]''', '''[[Melbourne Victory FC|Melbourne Victory]]''', '''[[Sydney FC]]''', [[West Adelaide SC|West Adelaide]]
* '''17''' seasons: [[Heidelberg United FC|Heidelberg United]], '''[[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]]'''
* '''14''' seasons: [[APIA Leichhardt FC|APIA Leichhardt]], '''[[Melbourne City FC|Melbourne City]]''', [[St George FC]]
* '''13''' seasons: [[Brisbane Strikers FC|Brisbane Strikers]], [[Footscray JUST]], [[Preston Lions FC|Preston Lions]]
* '''12''' seasons: '''[[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]]'''
* '''11''' seasons: [[Hakoah Sydney City East FC|Hakoah Sydney City East]]
* '''10''' seasons: [[Brisbane City FC|Brisbane City]], [[Canberra City FC|Canberra City]]
* '''9''' seasons: [[Falcons 2000 SC|Morwell Falcons]], [[Newcastle Breakers FC|Newcastle Breakers]]
* '''8''' seasons: [[Caroline Springs George Cross FC|Sunshine George Cross]]
* '''7''' seasons: [[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]], [[Brunswick Juventus FC|Brunswick Juventus]], [[Newcastle KB United]], [[Parramatta FC]]
* '''6''' seasons: [[Canberra Cosmos FC|Canberra Cosmos]], [[North West Sydney Spirit FC|Northern Spirit]]
* '''5''' seasons: [[Football Kingz]], [[Parramatta Power SC|Parramatta Power]], '''[[Western United FC|Western United]]'''
* '''4''' seasons: [[Carlton SC]], '''[[Macarthur FC]]'''
* '''3''' seasons: [[Green Gully SC|Green Gully]], [[Adamstown Rosebud|Newcastle Rosebud]], [[Gold Coast United FC|Gold Coast United]]
* '''2''' seasons: [[Monaro Panthers FC|Inter Monaro]], [[Penrith City SC|Penrith City]], [[Western Suburbs SC|Western Suburbs]], [[New Zealand Knights FC|New Zealand Knights]], [[Northern Fury FC|North Queensland Fury]]
* '''1''' seasons: [[Canterbury Bankstown FC|Canterbury Marrickville]], [[Collingwood Warriors SC|Collingwood Warriors]], [[Mooroolbark SC]], [[Wollongong United FC|Wollongong Macedonia]]
{{div col end}}

==Largest Australian soccer stadiums by capacity==
{{further|List of soccer stadiums in Australia}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:200px;"| Stadium
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| Image
! scope="col" style="width:100px;"| City
! scope="col" style="width:65px;"| Capacity
! scope="col" style="width:235px;"| Team(s)
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" | [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:CG-MelbCricketGround-Pano.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Melbourne]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|100,024}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stadiumstomp.com/about/the-stadiums/mcg|title=MCG - Stadium Stomp|website=stadiumstomp.com|access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]<br>[[Australia women's national soccer team]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Stadium Australia]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:2023FWWC Final (stadium).jpg|100x100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Sydney]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|83,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://accorstadium.com.au/footer/about-us/our-history|title=Our History - Accor Stadium|work=[[Stadium Australia|Accor Stadium]]|access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]<br>[[Australia women's national soccer team]]
| Commercially known as ''Accor Stadium''.
|-
! scope="row" | [[Perth Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Perth Stadium, December 2017 01.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Perth]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|65,000}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://optusstadium.com.au/the-stadium/fact-sheets/seating-capacity|title=Seating Capacity|work=[[Perth Stadium|Optus Stadium]]|access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]
| Commercially known as ''Optus Stadium''.
|-
! scope="row" | [[Docklands Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:TelstraDomeDocklands.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Melbourne]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|56,347}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/marvel-stadium|title=Marvel Stadium – Austadiums|website=austadiums.com|access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]<br>[[Australia women's national soccer team]]
| Commercially known as ''Marvel Stadium''.
|-
! scope="row" | [[Adelaide Oval]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Completed Adelaide Oval 2014 - cropped and rotated.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Adelaide]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|53,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/adelaide-oval|title=Adelaide Oval – Austadiums|website=austadiums.com|access-date=22 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Lang Park]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Suncorpstadium071006a.JPG|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Brisbane]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|52,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://suncorpstadium.com.au/about-us/about-the-stadium.aspx|title=Suncorp Stadium - About The Stadium|work=[[Lang Park|Suncorp Stadium]]|access-date=22 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]<br>[[Australia women's national soccer team]]<br>[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]]
| Commercially known as ''Suncorp Stadium''.
|-
! scope="row" | [[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:QSAC2009-01.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Brisbane]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|48,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qsac.com.au/Facilities/Main-Stadium|title=QSAC - Main Stadium|work=[[Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre]]|access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia women's national soccer team]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Sydney Cricket Ground]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:Sydney Cricket Ground (24509044622).jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Sydney]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|48,000}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/sydney-cricket-ground-s1851|title=Sydney Cricket Ground – Sydney Sixers|website=stadiumjourney.com|date=20 February 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]
|
|-
! scope="row" | [[Sydney Football Stadium (2022)|Sydney Football Stadium]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:SydneyFootballStadium Aug2022 Pre-open.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Sydney]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|42,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects-nsw/sydney-football-stadium-redevelopment|title=Sydney Football Stadium Redevelopment - Infrastructure NSW|website=infrastructure.nsw.gov.au|access-date=22 February 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia women's national soccer team]]<br>[[Sydney FC]]<br>[[Sydney FC (A-League Women)|Sydney FC ALW]]
| Commercially known as ''Allianz Stadium''.
|-
! scope="row" | [[The Gabba]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[File:The Gabba Panorama.jpg|100px]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Brisbane]]
| style="text-align:center;" | {{nts|42,500}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegabba.com.au/about-us/about-the-stadium.aspx|title=Gabba - About Us|work=[[The Gabba]]|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
| [[Australia men's national soccer team]]
|
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia|soccer}}

===Overview by state or territory===
* [[Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory]]
* [[Soccer in New South Wales]]
* [[Soccer in the Northern Territory]]
* [[Soccer in Queensland]]
* [[Soccer in South Australia]]
* [[Soccer in Tasmania]]
* [[Soccer in Victoria]]
* [[Soccer in Western Australia]]

===Other articles===
* [[Australian soccer league system]]
* [[Soccer records and statistics in Australia]]
* [[List of Australian soccer champions]]
* [[Football Hall of Fame (Australia)|Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{commons category}}
{{AUS fb general}}
{{AUS fb general}}
{{AUS fb natteams}}
{{AUS fb A-League}}
{{AUS fb states}}
{{AUS fb states}}
{{fb end}}

{{Australian sport}}
{{Australian sport}}


[[Category:Football (soccer) in Australia| ]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Association Football in Australia}}
[[Category:Sport in Australia]]
[[Category:Soccer in Australia| ]]

[[de:Fußball in Australien]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 15 December 2024

Soccer in Australia
CountryAustralia
Governing bodyFootball Australia (FA)
National team(s)Australia men's national soccer team
Australia women's national soccer team
Nickname(s)Socceroos, Matildas
First played7 August 1875 in Goodna, Queensland.
Registered players1,232,726 (adult)
632,249 (child)[1]
Clubs14,021[citation needed]
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Audience records
Single match114,000
Spain vs Cameroon; Stadium Australia, 30 September 2000[2] (National teams)
99,382
Real Madrid vs Manchester City; Melbourne Cricket Ground, 24 July 2015 (Club teams)

In Australia, Soccer, also known as British football, is the most played outdoor team sport,[3][4] and ranked in the top ten for television audience as of 2015.[5] The national governing body of the sport is Football Australia (FA) which comprises nine state and territory member federations, which oversee the sport within their respective region. The season in Australia is played during the summer, to avoid clashing with Australian rules and Rugby league which dominant spectator and media interest there.

Modern soccer was introduced in Australia in the late 19th century by mostly British immigrants. The first club formed in the country, Wanderers, was founded on 3 August 1880 in Sydney, while the oldest club in Australia currently in existence is Balgownie Rangers, formed in 1883 in Wollongong. Wanderers were also the first known recorded team to play under the Laws of the Game. A semi-professional national league, the National Soccer League (NSL), was introduced in 1977. The NSL was replaced by professional A-League Men, in 2004, which has contributed to a rise in popularity in the sport. Australia was a founding member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) before moving to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006. The main professional leagues are the A-League Men, A-League Women and the Australia Cup however foreign leagues such as the Premier League, the Championship and the Women's Super League are also popular.

The men's and women's national teams, known as the Socceroos and the Matildas respectively, compete globally. Australia cohosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with New Zealand. The Matildas finished fourth in that tournament (Australia's best ever performance at any World Cup, male or female), and the majority of Australians watched them play on television or at the stadium. It had a major impact on Australian sport, and the phenomenon is commonly known as "Matildas fever".

History

[edit]
St Kilda Soccer Club at Middle Park, 1909

19th century

[edit]

An early match took place at the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum, located in Wacol in suburban Brisbane, on 7 August 1875, when a team of inmates and wards men from the asylum played against the visiting Brisbane Australian rules football club; the rules of the match which clearly stated that the "ball should not be handled nor carried" was a direct reference to British Association Rules.[6]

A match was recorded to be played in Hobart on 10 May 1879, when members of the Cricketer's Club played a scratch match under English Association Rules, which were adopted by the club.[7] The game was a return match to one played on 24 May by the clubs, under a variant of the Victorian rules; to prevent the disadvantage faced by the Cricketers, the clubs agreed that that Association rules would be adopted in the return match.[7]

The first recorded match in Sydney under the Laws of the Game was contested between Wanderers and members of the Kings School rugby team at Parramatta Common on 14 August 1880.[8] The Wanderers, considered the first soccer club in Australia, was established on 3 August 1880, by English-émigré John Walter Fletcher. Later, in 1882, Fletcher formed the New South Wales English Football Association (also referred to as the South British Football Soccer Association), the very first administrative governing body of soccer within Australia and one of the first to be established outside the United Kingdom.[8]

In 1883, Balgownie Rangers, the oldest existing club in Australia was founded; the club currently competes in the Illawarra regional league.[9] Later that year, the first inter-colonial game was played at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, between a representative Victorian team and one from the neighbouring colony of New South Wales.[10]

As soccer continued to grow throughout Australia, John Fletcher's New South Wales soccer association gave inspiration to other states to establish their own governing bodies for the sport. In 1884, Victoria formed its own association, the Anglo-Australian Football Association (now Football Victoria), as did Queensland, in the Anglo-Queensland Football Association (now, Football Queensland), and Northern New South Wales, in the Northern District British Football Association (now, Northern New South Wales Football). In 1896, the Western Australian Soccer Football Association was formed. In 1900, a Tasmanian association was formed, and later, the South Australian British Football Association was formed in 1902.[11]

20th century

[edit]
Association football (soccer) team of the 'Australian Squadron' of the British Royal Navy. HMS Psyche. 1910

It was not until 1911 that a governing body was formed to oversee soccer activities in the whole of Australia. The first such organisation was called the Commonwealth Football Association.[12] However, this body was superseded by the Australian Soccer Association, which was formed in 1921.[8]

Australia is regarded as the first country where squad numbers in soccer were used for the first time when Sydney Leichardt and HMS Powerful players displayed numbers on their backs, in 1911.[13] One year later, numbering in soccer would be ruled as mandatory in New South Wales.[14]

The first Australia national team playing in game 2 against New Zealand during Australia's first ever tour to New Zealand in 1922

On 17 June 1922, the first Australian national representative soccer team was constituted by the Australian Soccer Association to represent Australia for a tour of New Zealand. During the tour the Australia men's national team lost two out of the three matches against the newly formed New Zealand side.[15]

A football pitch used by the Federal Woollen Mills team in North Geelong, Victoria. Photo circa 1925/1935

After World War I, large numbers of British and southern European arrived seeking opportunities in new industries across parts of Australia which led to establishing soccer as a major sport in the country.[16]

Australian Imperial Force play a saturday afternoon soccer game in Darwin. Signals versus Navy. 1943

A distinct rise in popularity in New South Wales and Victoria, among other states, was linked to the post-World War II immigration. Migrant players and supporters were prominent, providing the sport with a new but distinct profile. Soccer served as a cultural gateway for many emigrants, acting as a social lubricant. Soccer transcended cultural and language barriers in communities which bridged the gap between minority communities and other classes within the country, thus bringing about a unique unity.[17][18]

The most prominent soccer clubs in Australian cities during the 1950s and 1960s were based around migrant-ethnic groups, all of which expanded rapidly at that time: Croatian, Greek, Macedonian and Italian communities gave rise to most of the largest clubs, the most notable being South Melbourne (Greek-based), Sydney Olympic (Greek-based), Marconi Stallions (Italian-based), Adelaide City (Italian-based), Melbourne Knights (Croatian-based), Sydney United (Croatian-based) and Preston Lions (Macedonian-based).

Game of soccer at the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre. North East Victoria 1952.

In 1956, Australia became a FIFA member through the Australian Soccer Association. Though Australia's membership was soon suspended in 1960 after disobeying FIFA mandate on recruiting foreign players without a transfer fee.[19] In 1961, the Australian Soccer Federation was formed and later admitted to FIFA in 1963, after outstanding fines had been paid. In 1966, Australia became founding members of the Oceania Football Federation (now Oceania Football Confederation).[20]

Pre-1960s, competitive soccer in Australia was state-based. In 1962, the Australia Cup was established,[21] but its ambition of becoming an FA Cup style knockout competition went unfulfilled with its demise in 1968. In 1977, the first national soccer competition, the National Soccer League, was founded.[22]

Migrants continued to boost interest in and player for the sport in the 1970s and 1980s, especially from the Middle East and from the former Yugoslavia.[23]

In 1984, the National Soccer Youth League was founded as a reserve and academy league to run in parallel to the National Soccer League. In 1996, the first national women's soccer competition, the Women's National Soccer League was founded. The National Soccer League and those for women and youth flourished through the 1980s and early 1990s, though with the increasing departure of Australian players to overseas leagues.[citation needed]

Soccer reached notable popularity among Australian people during the second half of the 20th century. Johnny Warren, a prominent advocate for the sport, who was a member of the Australia national team at their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1974, entitled his memoir Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters (a reference to the Australian slang: sheila, wog, poofter), giving an indication of how Warren considered the wider Australian community viewed "wogball".[8]

In the mid-1990s, Soccer Australia (the governing body for the sport) attempted under the Chairmanship of David Hill to shift soccer into the Australian mainstream and away from direct club-level association with migrant roots. Many clubs across the country were required to change their names and badges to represent a more inclusive community.[24]

21st century

[edit]

The sport experienced major change in the country in 2003, after the then Minister for Sport, Rod Kemp, and the Australian Parliament commissioned a report by the Independent Soccer Review Committee. Its findings in the structure, governance and management of soccer in Australia led the restructure of Football Federation Australia (previously Australian Soccer Federation, Soccer Australia, Australia Soccer Association) and later in 2005, the succeeding relaunched national competition, the A-League.

The restructuring of the sport in Australia also saw the adoption of "football" by administrators, in preference to "soccer", to align with the general international name of the sport.[25] Although the use of "football" was largely cultural, as part of an attempt to reposition the sport within Australia, there were also "practical and corporate reasons for the change", including a need for the sport to break away from the baggage left over from previous competitions.[25] However, the move created problems within the wider community, engendering confusion due to the naming conflict with other football codes, and creating conflict with other sporting bodies.[26]

Australia ended a 32-year absent streak when the nation team qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The team's qualification and success in the tournament helped increase the profile and popularity of the sport in the country.[27]

The national team qualified for second and third consecutive FIFA World Cups in 2010 and 2014; and placed second in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. The joining of Western Sydney Wanderers to the A-League in 2012 saw a rise in interest for the league within Australia, particularly increasing mainstream interest[28] and re-engagement with disaffected Western Sydney soccer fans. Also, the formation of the National Premier Leagues in 2013 and subsequent restructuring of state leagues as part of the National Competition Review and Elite Player Pathway Review has paved the way for the development of the sport throughout the country.[29][30] The launch of the Australia Cup (then known as FFA Cup) in 2014 has also similarly increased mainstream interest and grassroots development.[citation needed]

In the 21st century, a major migrant group furnishing new players in the A-League has been the African Australian community, with 34 players making an appearance in the 2020-2021 A-League season, up on 26 the previous year. These include Kusini Yengi and his brother, Tete Yengi, from South Sudan, and their friends, brothers Mohamed and Al Hassan Toure.[23]

In 2020, Football Federation Australia officially unveiled a plan called "XI Principles for the future of Australian Football", shortened as Vision 2035, with the aim to restructure and expand football across the country, with the rebranding of the domestic league, establishment of a national second division, alignment with FIFA Domestic Match Calendar, restart and rebuilding of Australian football products (mainly by fixing the youth football development), reducing costs of football in the country, possibility of establishing promotion and relegation system, and expansion of women's football, with the aim to achieve the Vision 2035 for football in the country.[31]

In summer 2021, Football Australia officials announced a series of major reforms: the shift in calendar by aligning with Domestic Match Calendar and to avoid clashing with FIFA days so it could help the Socceroos to compete; establishment of a second-tier professional league; club licensing framework; domestic transfer system; as well a potential adoption of promotion-relegation system, expected to be implemented by 2022–23.[32][33]

Organisation

[edit]

Soccer in Australia is governed by Football Australia (FA) which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006.

FA is underpinned by nine member federations which oversee all aspects of the sport within their respective region, including the organisation of state league and cup tournaments as opposed to national tournaments which are organised by FA. Member federations are state-based, although New South Wales is divided into a northern and southern federation.[34]

Former and current Australian professional soccer players are represented by the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), a trade union affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions and a member of FIFPro, the global representative organisation for professional soccer players.[35] The association tends to soccer players' pay and conditions, and also protects soccer players from unfair dismissal.

League system

[edit]

A-League Men

[edit]

The A-League Men was founded in 2005 after Australia's former top-flight national league National Soccer League was replaced. The A-League Men is contested between 12 clubs. The league covers the only competition controlled by the Australian Professional Leagues and the only professional league in Australia.

National Second Division

[edit]

The National Second Division is the upcoming Australian second-tier professional division, and is expected to begin from 2025.[36]

National Premier Leagues

[edit]

The National Premier Leagues has 90 clubs, divided into eight divisions by state. Despite the organisational split, promotion and relegation does not take place between the A-League and NPL.

State-league soccer

[edit]

Below the NPL, is what is commonly known as "state-league". This refers to clubs outside of NPL, although they still play in organised league competitions for each state in the Australian system.

District soccer

[edit]

There are many district leagues and soccer clubs in Australia, examples include NSW districts Bankstown, Blacktown, Eastern Suburbs with their own semi-professional leagues with clubs from their respective districts.

Youth leagues

[edit]

Many club sides have youth teams. The top level of youth soccer in Australia is the A-League Youth, founded for all A-League Men clubs that have Youth sides. The league, which currently has 10 teams, is divided into two groups each with five teams. The winners of both groups contest the end-of-season Grand Final to decide the league champions.

Cup competitions

[edit]

There are several cup competitions for clubs at different levels of the soccer pyramid. The only major cup competitions are the Australia Cup.

  • The Australia Cup, first held in 2014, is the only major cup competition in Australia. It is open to around 700 clubs in levels 1–9 of the soccer pyramid.
  • The Federation Cup, first held in 1962, is a Capital Football cup played through all levels of Capital Football teams.
  • The Waratah Cup, first held in 1991, is a New South Wales cup played through all levels of teams from the NSW league system.
  • The Canale Cup, first held in 1894, is the oldest knockout competition in Australia and is played through Brisbane teams below the National Premier Leagues.
  • The Dockerty Cup, first held in 1909, is a Victorian cup open to all clubs from Victoria in the Victorian league system.
  • The Geelong Community Cup, first held in 1981, is an annual tournament held in the region for local team across all levels of Victorian league system.

There have also been other cup competitions which are no longer run:

Participation

[edit]

According to Ausplay in 2024, there were 1,232,726 adults and 632,249 children playing the sport of which about a quarter were female with an overall participation per capita of 6.9% making it the most participated team sport.[1]

According to FIFA's Big Count in 2006, a total of 970,728 people in Australia participated in the sport, with 435,728 registered players, and 535,000 unregistered players.[37] These numbers were higher than the equivalents for other sports such as cricket, Australian rules football, rugby league and rugby union.[38] In 2013, an audit on the sport by Gemba found that 1.96 million Australians were actively involved in the game as a player.[39] When coaches, referees and fans are included it is estimated that involvement with the sport is around 3.1 million.[40]

Region/State/Territory Overview Adult players 2016[41] Adult players 2022[42] Adult players 2023/2024[1]
Australia National 1,143,640 1,157,050 1,232,726
New South Wales New South Wales Overview 440,470 477,174 471,480
Victoria (state) Victoria Overview 250,613 243,956 227,213
Queensland Queensland Overview 232,668 211,923 217,749
Western Australia Western Australia Overview 103,636 111,085 117,248
South Australia South Australia Overview 51,601 61,705 84,263
Tasmania Tasmania Overview 17,984 15,522 14,594
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Overview 25,210 25,905 28,916
Northern Territory Northern Territory Overview 8,845 9,780 11,457

Men's national teams

[edit]

National Men's soccer teams of various age groups represent Australia in international competition. Australian national teams historically competed in the OFC, though since FFA's move in 2006, Australian teams have competed in AFC competitions.

The Australia national soccer team, nicknamed the "Socceroos", represents Australia in international soccer. Australia is a four-time OFC champion, one time Asian champion and AFC National Team of the Year for 2006. The Men's team has represented Australia at the FIFA World Cup tournaments in 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

In the Olympic arena, Australia first fielded a men's team at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Australia did not compete again in the Olympic arena, until the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Apart from London 2012, where it failed to qualify a team, Australia has competed in all Olympic Men's Football competitions since 1988.[43]

There are also a number of national youth teams: Under-17 team, nicknamed the "Joeys"; Under-20 team, nicknamed the "Young Socceroos"; and the Under-23 team, nicknamed the "Olyroos". The latter is considered to be a feeder team for the national team.

In addition there is a beach team, nicknamed the "Beach Socceroos", which represents Australia in international beach soccer and a Paralympic team, nicknamed the "Pararoos", which competes in international Paralympic association football.

Women's soccer

[edit]

The participation of Australian women in soccer was first recorded in the early 1920s.[8] It has since become one of the country's most popular women's team sports. As with the men's game, the women's game in Australia saw a large expansion following the post-war immigration, though it is only in recent years that women's soccer has gained momentum, with such factors as the creation of the W-League and the success of the Australia women's national soccer team nicknamed "the Matildas" aiding the increasing popularity of the game.[8][44][45] In 2021 the W-League was renamed to A-League Women.[46]

Women's soccer was added to the Olympic program in 1996, with Australia first fielding a Women's team at Sydney 2000. Australia fielded a team at the Athens 2004 Olympics, but did not qualify for the final Olympic tournament again until Rio 2016.[43]

Australia cohosted the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with New Zealand. The Matildas finished fourth in that tournament (Australia's best ever performance at any World Cup, male or female), and the majority of Australians watched them play on television or at the stadium. It had a major impact on Australian sport, and the phenomenon is commonly known as "Matildas fever".

In April 2024, the 2023–24 A-League Women season set the record for the most attended season of any women's sport in Australian history, with the season recording a total attendance of 284,551 on 15 April 2024,[47][48][49][50] and finishing with a final total attendance of 312,199.[51]

Stadiums in Australia

[edit]

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest stadium in the country with a capacity of 100,000. It is owned by the Victorian Government and stages some of Australia's home matches. Stadium Australia is the largest stadium with a rectangular configuration, followed by Docklands Stadium and Lang Park.

Variations

[edit]

Futsal, an indoor variant of soccer, was introduced in Australia in the early 1970s and soon gained popularity after a wet period during the winter football season forced players indoors where they took up the new sport.[52][53]

Media coverage

[edit]

Pay television is the predominant outlet for both domestic and international soccer in Australia. Some games can also be heard on local radio stations. The anti-siphoning list which controls what must be kept on free to air television in Australia includes only specific international matches, including all matches at the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup featuring Australia as well as both the FIFA World Cup Final and the FIFA Women's World Cup Final.

In 2007, a A$120 million, seven-year broadcasting deal between FFA and Fox Sports Australia gave the subscription television exclusive rights to all Australia internationals, all A-League and AFC Asian Cup fixtures, FIFA World Cup qualifiers through the AFC, and all AFC Champions League matches.[54] In 2013, FFA signed a joint A$160 million, four-year deal with Fox Sports and SBS for the A-League.[55] SBS would show a delayed simulcast for the second round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification,[56] before the Nine Network broadcast the live simulcast rights for the third round and intercontinental play-offs.[57] In 2017, Fox Sports renewed its deal with FFA for a further six years, with Network 10 simulcasting one A-League match each week.[58] ABC TV would later receive the simulcast rights for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.[59] In 2020, Fox Sports terminated its contract following financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.[60] Paramount+ currently holds the broadcasting rights for the A-Leagues and AFC Champions League competitions until the end of the 2025/26 season,[61] along with all Socceroos and Matildas matches until 2028.[62] Network 10 currently holds simulcast rights for some matches.

Since 1986, SBS has been the official Australian broadcast rights holder for the FIFA World Cup, and the television network will continue to hold the rights to the competition until 2026.[63] The Nine Network broadcast sixteen matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, including exclusive coverage of the final, and would also have shown all Australian matches had the Socceroos qualified.[64] Similarly, Optus Sport briefly held exclusive rights to every game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup before relinquishing them to SBS due to technical issues.[65]

Optus Sport is Australia's primary broadcaster of foreign soccer leagues such as the Premier League and the Women's Super League, along with the UEFA European Championship and UEFA European Qualifiers.[66] From 2016 to 2019, SBS held simulcast rights to one Premier League game per round.[67] Stan Sport, which the Nine Network owns, holds the broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League competitions.[68]

Support

[edit]

Soccer is a widely supported sport in Australia, with most Australians following the Socceroos and the Matildas. Many Australians also follow an A-League club and/or other foreign clubs, most commonly English clubs that play in either the Premier League or the Championship.[citation needed]

Many Australians, male and female, play for foreign clubs. The majority of both Socceroos and Matildas players play for clubs outside Australia, mostly for clubs in England. As of the 2024–25 season, fourteen Australians play in the Women's Super League (WSL),[69] with two in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou is the first ever Australian to manage a Premier League club, having managed Tottenham Hotspur since 2023. He has heavily contributed to the club's rising popularity in Australia.[citation needed]

Most supported clubs

[edit]

A-League

[edit]
Roy Morgan Research (2023)[70]
Club Supporters
Adelaide United 401,000
Brisbane Roar 595,000
Central Coast Mariners 177,000
Macarthur 69,000
Melbourne City 281,000
Melbourne Victory 590,000
Newcastle Jets 207,000
Perth Glory 441,000
Sydney FC 693,000
Wellington Phoenix 59,000
Western Sydney Wanderers 238,000
Western United 66,000

Premier League

[edit]
Online survey (Reddit, 2024)[71]
Club %
Arsenal 17.2%
Chelsea 6.9%
Ipswich Town 5.2%
Liverpool 19.0%
Manchester City 5.2%
Manchester United 6.9%
Tottenham Hotspur 20.7%
Other 18.9%

Seasons in Australian soccer

[edit]

The following articles are an incomplete list of Seasons in Soccer in Australia since 1884. Each article covers the leagues and competitions played that season, as well as games played by all national teams during that period. National soccer in Australia was not played until the 1962 season as the first 78 seasons only played regional soccer.

1880s 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889
1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899
1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909
1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919
1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929
1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 / 1989–90
1990s 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000s 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

Seasons in Top Flight[clarification needed]

[edit]

53 teams have taken part in 47 National Soccer League and A-League seasons that have been played from the 1977 season until the 2023–24 season. The teams in bold compete in the A-League Men currently.

Largest Australian soccer stadiums by capacity

[edit]
Stadium Image City Capacity Team(s) Notes
Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne 100,024[73] Australia men's national soccer team
Australia women's national soccer team
Stadium Australia Sydney 83,500[74] Australia men's national soccer team
Australia women's national soccer team
Commercially known as Accor Stadium.
Perth Stadium Perth 65,000[75] Australia men's national soccer team Commercially known as Optus Stadium.
Docklands Stadium Melbourne 56,347[76] Australia men's national soccer team
Australia women's national soccer team
Commercially known as Marvel Stadium.
Adelaide Oval Adelaide 53,500[77] Australia men's national soccer team
Lang Park Brisbane 52,500[78] Australia men's national soccer team
Australia women's national soccer team
Brisbane Roar
Commercially known as Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre Brisbane 48,500[79] Australia women's national soccer team
Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney 48,000[80] Australia men's national soccer team
Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 42,500[81] Australia women's national soccer team
Sydney FC
Sydney FC ALW
Commercially known as Allianz Stadium.
The Gabba Brisbane 42,500[82] Australia men's national soccer team

See also

[edit]

Overview by state or territory

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Commission, Australian Sports Commission; jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia; corporateName=Australian Sports. "AusPlay results". Sport Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Higham, James (2012). Sport Tourism Destinations. Routledge. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7506-5937-6.
  3. ^ "Australia's most popular sport: Landmark study". The New Daily. 28 March 2018.
  4. ^ "The Top 20 sports played by Aussies young and old(er)". Roy Morgan. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. ^ "AFL is clearly Australia's most watched Football Code, while V8 Supercars have the local edge over Formula 1". Roy Morgan. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Football. Fourth match of the season. Brisbane club v. Woogaroo asylum". The Queenslander. 14 July 1975. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b "NEW TOWN V. CRICKETERS". The Mercury. 26 May 1879. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Timeline of Australian Football". New South Wales Migration Heritage Centre, Powerhouse Museum. 2006. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Balgownie Rangers Soccer Club – Club History". 2006. Archived from the original on 24 August 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
  10. ^ "interstate soccer 1883". Sydney Morning Herald. trove.nla.gov.au. 17 August 1883. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Football in South Africa Timeline". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  12. ^ "COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION". Brisbane Courier. trove.nla.gov.au. 16 April 1914. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  13. ^ The Secret Lives of Numbers: The Curious Truth Behind Everyday Digits by Michael Millar, Virgin Books, 2012 – ISBN 978-0753540862
  14. ^ Así nació la tradición de usar números en las camisetas by Gustavo Farías on La Voz del Interior, 22 August 2013
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  16. ^ "The Story of Football in Victoria: Part 4 | Football Victoria". www.footballvictoria.com.au. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  17. ^ Bloomfield, John (2003). Australia's Sporting Success: The Inside Story. UNSW Press. ISBN 978-0-86840-582-7.
  18. ^ Anastasios Tamis (30 May 2005). The Greeks in Australia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 103–. ISBN 978-0-521-54743-7. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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  20. ^ "The World Cup Dream - Australian football timeline". www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
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  22. ^ "Oz Football NSL". Ozfootball.net. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  23. ^ a b Chalmers, Max (22 June 2021). "Football's A-League is lighting up with a new generation of African-Australian players". Radio National. ABC News. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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  25. ^ a b "Mainstream Aussie press finally adopting the term football as soccer seen as thing of the past". News.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
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