2022-23 Liberty A-League fixtures to promote more fan engagement

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The Liberty A-League Women 2022-23 season have been released alongside a new show, free tickets for juniors and kick-off times.

A heap of measures to drive engagement with an expanded Liberty A-League Women’s competition have been unveiled by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), building on feedback from fans and players in the lead-up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The fixture schedule has the majority of games at family-friendly kick off times and many based at boutique venues in a deliberate effort to build atmosphere.

This season, for the first time ever, all registered junior players across the country, boys and girls, will be welcome for free at Liberty A-League games – offering young fans the chance to see current and future Matildas every week as excitement grows ahead of the World Cup.

After consulting with fans and players in the off-season, APL has moved to consolidate kick-off times to make games as accessible to families as possible.

The APL is also announcing its investment in an innovative broadcast format designed to give fans a compelling live experience every week.

As well as showing every game of the Liberty A-League live and free on 10 Play and live on Paramount+, the Saturday afternoon games will feature in a new ‘goal rush’-style show, switching from game to game as the action unfolds and with the host and experts having a two-way live conversation with the audience during the simultaneous games.

Australian Professional Leagues’ Chief Executive Officer, Danny Townsend said in a statement:

“87,000 fans watched the UEFA Women’s Final in July and the English FA Women’s Super League Clubs immediately reported memberships going through the roof. In the year that the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, we are orienting our business to Licapitalise upon that opportunity and ensure a lasting legacy for women’s football.

“This year, we have every single Liberty A-League Women game available live and free for the first time ever, and free access for every participant under season to watch the games in person. We know how our fans are consuming sport and we are better serving that growing audience of young, digitally connected fans.”

Commenting on the Liberty Pass, Liberty’s Chief Executive Officer James Boyle, said via Australian Professional Leagues:

“We’re looking forward to another electric season of Liberty A-League and are delighted to be introducing the Liberty Pass to young football fans, keen to experience the passion and quality of women’s professional football. The Liberty Pass will make football even more accessible, allowing freethinking families to enjoy an exciting live sporting experience at games throughout the season.”

The drive to reimagine the experience for both fans at the games and viewers comes as Western United joins as the competition’s 11th team, adding more games for fans and more match minutes for players.

APL has previously announced that Central Coast Mariners will join the competition next season, taking it to 12 teams with a full home and away fixture list – providing players with the same match minutes as the benchmark women’s leagues in Europe.

The players will also enter the second season of a five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which mandates the same standards for men and women across areas such as hotels, sports science and training facilities, as part of APL’s sustained and extensive investment in growing women’s football.

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Murray United calls Football Victoria review following wave of State League forfeits

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Image Credit: Murray United FC

Murray United has called on Football Victoria to undertake a comprehensive review of State League football after a series of fixture forfeits left the regional club questioning the integrity of the competition and the long-term sustainability of its senior pathway.

In correspondence sent to Football Victoria, Murray United outlined concerns following what it says has been an unprecedented number of forfeited fixtures during the 2026 State League season. According to the club, its senior men’s program has been impacted by five forfeited rounds, equating to 10 matches. This includes the club’s last two fixtures, significantly disrupting competition across both senior and reserve grades.

The club and its chairman Pedro Afonso, argue the consequences extend far beyond missed fixtures, affecting player development, community engagement and confidence in the State League system.

“This is extraordinary, unacceptable, and completely inconsistent with the integrity and intent of Football Victoria’s State League competition,” Afonso said to Football Victoria.

“This impact extends well beyond lost fixtures. It has damaged player morale, member engagement, volunteer morale, sponsorship and club revenue, and the reputation of the sport and competition itself.”

Located at the club’s $20 million facility in Wodonga, Murray United has invested heavily in creating a regional football pathway. However, repeated forfeits have limited opportunities for players, coaches and supporters to participate in home State League fixtures.

The club has hosted just three home rounds this season despite the significant investment made into facilities and matchday operations.

“Our players, coaches, members, supporters, sponsors and the sport expect a legitimate State League competition, not one regularly disrupted by forfeits,” Afonso said.

“Our confidence must be restored by Football Victoria.”

While the immediate concern centres on this season, Murray United believes the issue reflects broader structural challenges facing regional football within Victoria’s State League system. Between the north-west and south-east competitions, there are 14 divisions of State League football in Victoria.

Among its recommendations, the club has called for Football Victoria and its Football Development Committee to undertake a formal review of the State League Seven North West competition, including club compliance and the frequency of forfeits.

Murray United also questioned whether the current competition structure provides an appropriate development environment for ambitious regional clubs. The club could be promoted to division six due to a large proportion of fixture forfeits. But fearing further cancellations, the club is requesting a review to be placed in an even higher division where clubs are willing to travel to Wodonga.

“We believe we should be sensibly placed in a competition that reflects our playing standard, facilities, player and coach pathways and our ambitions,” Afonso said.

The club has requested that Football Victoria assess its senior program using grading principles similar to those recently applied within senior women’s competitions, with consideration given to placement in a competition more suited to its football program and long-term objectives.

Alongside competition grading, Murray United has proposed stronger penalties for clubs that repeatedly forfeit fixtures. Recommendations include increased financial sanctions to $2,100 for senior teams alongside a three-point deduction per forfeit and compensation for host clubs to offset matchday operating costs.

The submission also encourages Football Victoria to review minimum participation standards across State League clubs, strengthen accountability measures and examine whether the existing league structure adequately supports regional football.

Afonso believes reform is necessary to ensure regional clubs are not disadvantaged within a statewide competition.

“We remain fully committed to providing quality football opportunities for our regional members and community and have heavily invested in facilities, player and coach development and volunteers,” he said.

The club has requested that Football Victoria provide clarity on the actions it intends to take before the commencement of the 2027 season, arguing that restoring confidence in competition integrity will be critical for the continued growth of regional football.

 

Kansas City Current receive financial backing for stadium expansion

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Image credit: CPKC Stadium

The CPKC Stadium, home to NWSL side KC Current, will see a major financial injection transform its capacity from 11,500 to 18,000.

 

Leading by example

Amid the excitement, chaos and attention on the FIFA World Cup this summer, the football industry in the US has, once again, come into the spotlight.

But one story which truly represents the progress and development of football in the US is not within the men’s game, but the women’s.

Kansas City Current – a team who privately funded the world’s first purpose-built football stadium for a women’s professional team – is once again leading by example for women’s football in the US.

Only this time, their stadium plans will have the backing not just of the club, but of the Kansas City Council. A recently approved package of AUD 336 million (USD 235 million) will add 6,500 seats to the venue, an expansion which comes as a welcome development for fans who regularly fill the CPKC Stadium to capacity.

 

Big investment, fast expansion

The CPKC Stadium, however, is little over two years old, having reached its project completion in 2024. But after matches consistently sold out, expansion was always the next step in the inspirational journey of the KC Current.

Co-founders and co-owners, Angie and Chris Long, outlined what the coming investment will mean for both club and community.

“We are proud to continue investing in Kansas City’s future and grateful for the partnership that makes this chapter possible,” the Longs said.

“The success of the Current and the Riverfront benefit our entire community, and we are honoured to help create a lasting legacy for a city that has given so much to us.”

The public funding for the project takes it to AUD 2 billion (USD 1.4 billion). Such financial commitment, of course, reflects the welcome backing from the Kansas City Council.

Yet, more importantly, it shows that women’s football is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the sporting world. In just a few years, the KC Current went from a 3,200 capacity stadium to one which boasts 18,000.

Who knows, in the coming seasons, where this rapid rise will lead to next.

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