Training sites announced for 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia

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13 training sites across 5 Australian cities have been selected in the initial phase of team facility planning, for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The confirmed list of sites selected for participating nations to conduct training sessions throughout the tournament include:

  • Adelaide/ Tarntanya – Marden Sports Complex (Marden), South Australia Football Centre (Gepps Cross)
  • Brisbane / Meaanjin – Perry Park (Bowen Hills), Spencer Park (Newmarket)
  • Melbourne / Naarm – JL Murphy Reserve (Port Melbourne), Lakeside Stadium (Albert Park), Reggio Calabria Club (Parkville)
  • Perth / Boorloo – Dorrien Gardens (West Perth), Western Australia State Football Centre (Queens Park)
  • Sydney / Gadigal – ES Marks Athletics Field (Kensington), Leichhardt Oval (Leichardt), Valentine Sports Park (Glenwood), Western Sydney Wanderers Centre of Football (Rooty Hill)

Football Australia’s Head of Women’s World Cup Legacy, Sarah Walsh, said of the announcement: “This is an important moment for our host cities and the start of a number of exciting announcements around the tournament as it starts to come to life for our local football communities.

“Beyond the major stadia, we now see multiple facilities having an opportunity to be a part of this tournament of firsts, with many of these Training Sites having a strong football footprint and are deeply embedded in their local communities.  This is a chance to increase their involvement and highlight the contribution to Australia’s football story.

“Their selection as training sites for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 highlights the importance of high-quality community facilities.  Through our community facilities Legacy ’23 pillar, we will be working to ensure that many more community grounds are equipped with female-friendly sporting facilities to accelerate the growth of women’s football post-tournament.”

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, welcomed the news that international stars would be training at some of the state’s premium football venues.

“With two of our state’s iconic football venues selected as training sites for the tournament, we look forward to continuing to work with Queensland Government to ensure we are supporting the growth of the women’s game and delivering a lasting legacy for Queensland’s footballers,” he stated.

Football NSW CEO, Stuart Hodge, was delighted with the news.

“We are proud of the inclusive football facilities we have developed at Valentine Sports Park,” he said.

“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 fast approaching, we are committed to the rollout of Legacy programs to help ensure our members have the capacity and capabilities to meet the needs of our fast-growing female football community.”

Football South Australia CEO, Michael Carter, highlighted the impact the State Centre for Football will have in increasing the participation of women and girls in the years to come.

“The State Centre for Football, which is due for completion late April will be a great facility that will connect grassroots to the elite,” he stated.

“The Centre will play a vital role for our Legacy Plan, providing opportunities for all through a variety of programs such as social football, school competitions, Walking Football and inclusion programs.”

Football Victoria President, Antonella Care, added: “The selected Victorian venues have extended ties to our game and will provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities as training sites for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

“Not only will they provide an ideal environment for teams to prepare ahead of their matches; they will also ensure women’s football flourishes well beyond it.”

Football West CEO, James Curtis, explained: “There is great excitement in Western Australia for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and we are delighted that we have two fantastic venues which will play host to national teams.

“The State Football Centre will deliver a legacy for female football in WA for decades to come and it is fitting that it will be forever associated with the Women’s World Cup, the pinnacle of our game. Football West regularly uses Dorrien Gardens for our finals, and this is another first-class facility which will be worthy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

In the coming months, the next phase of the training site project will be completed, with an evaluation of other prospective training sites across both Australia and New Zealand.

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APL and PFA remain without agreement as bargaining tensions continue

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Image Credit: A-Leagues

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) remain without a new collective bargaining agreement, with negotiations continuing less than three months before the start of the 2026–27 A-Leagues season.

The APL presented the players’ union with a new one-year interim proposal on August 5, which included an increase to the A-League Women salary cap and a commitment to establish a pathway towards full-time professionalism for the women’s competition within 12 months.

The proposed agreement would provide an interim framework while the two parties continue discussions over a longer-term collective bargaining agreement.

APL chief executive Steve Rosich said the proposal reflected the league’s commitment to reaching a sustainable agreement with players following eight months of negotiations.

However, the PFA criticised the APL for publicly announcing the proposal shortly after presenting it to the union, arguing that the approach had further damaged trust between the two parties.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch also said players had overwhelmingly rejected the APL’s previous final offer, citing a lack of trust in the league’s ability to ensure its future.

Full-time professionalism for the A-League Women remains a key priority for the PFA, with players seeking improved conditions and greater investment in the competition.

The A-League Men and A-League Women seasons are both scheduled to begin on 16 October 2026.

With the new season approaching, both parties face pressure to resolve the dispute and establish the framework governing player conditions across the A-Leagues.

 

 

Theo Fotopoulos outlines vision for Canberra United’s future

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Image Credit: Lukas Coch

Professional football in the nation’s capital has entered a new era with Australian Sports Group (ASG) officially taking over Canberra United ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Led by Chairman Morris McAllister and CEO Theo Fotopoulos, ASG takes over a club whose future has been uncertain in recent years. Now, the focus has shifted from survival to building a sustainable future for football in Canberra.

Speaking to Soccerscene, Fotopoulos discussed why ASG chose to invest in Canberra United, the importance of preserving the club’s identity, and the roadmap for the chapter ahead for football in the nation’s capital.

Why Canberra?

The investment in Canberra United comes at an important time for the club. The beginning of the 2026/27 A-League Women season is just around the corner, and the prospect of an A-League Men side is drawing closer. Asked why ASG chose to invest in Canberra United and Canberra itself, Fotopoulos’ answer was simple.

“Canberra has stacks of football culture. It is a football city,” Fotopoulos said.

Speaking on the decision to retain the name Canberra United and not undertake a rebrand, Fotopoulos pointed to the club’s history and connection to the community.

“We retained the name, Canberra United, because of the history and the association. We felt there were more positives to retain the name,” Fotopoulos said.

The new ownership also wants supporters to play an active role in shaping the club’s future.

“The fans will be involved in making decisions,” Fotopoulos said.

Fotopoulos revealed that the club is already consulting with fans on the introduction of a nickname and is looking at developing a playing kit that is designed by the fans.

While Canberra offers a unique opportunity for professional football, Fotopoulos acknowledged the club will still compete for supporters’ attention alongside established sporting organisations such as the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies.

Rather than viewing that as a disadvantage, he believes Canberra’s appetite for sport presents an opportunity to grow the club’s presence in the capital.

“It is something that allows us to accelerate the building of the brand in Canberra, Canberrans really love their sports,” Fotopoulos said.

 

The road ahead

The 2026/27 Ninja A-League season kicks off in October, and the priority for Fotopoulos and ASG at Canberra United is to ensure that Canberra is ready to compete not only next season, but sustainably for the years ahead.

“For us, it’s really stabilisation for the women’s. Build that and build the infrastructure around the women then translate that into an additional structure for the men’s program,” Fotopoulos said.

Infrastructure also forms a key pillar of ASG’s long-term vision. Fotopoulos said securing a long-term home at McKellar Park and improving football facilities across Canberra would play an important role in supporting future growth.

He believes better facilities will benefit not only Canberra United but football throughout the ACT and surrounding region.

Importantly, the takeover of the club included an option to introduce a team into the A-League Men’s competition from the 2028/29 season, which is something that ASG intends to pursue.

When speaking about the future of the proposed senior men’s side, Fotopoulos pointed to the quality within and around the organisation that will ensure its introduction.

“We’re quietly confident, the football department is very positive. There are a lot of quality people, both in Canberra and outside of Canberra, that have indicated interest in being part of the elite pathways academy structures that will be the foundation for a new A-League men’s team,” Fotopoulos said.

 

More than a football club

For Fotopoulos and ASG, this investment is about more than just owning and running a football club. The focus extends beyond results on the field to developing an integrated football structure and greater cohesion across the game.

In order to support a strong senior men’s and women’s side, Fotopoulos outlined the importance of establishing strong junior pathways for young players growing up in Canberra.

“One of the other big picture objectives is to finally get to establishing a permanent pathway,” Fotopoulos said.

Fotopoulos believes that these pathways will ensure long-term stability for Canberra United and help form the foundation of both senior playing groups for years to come.

However, it wasn’t just an investment in football in Canberra. It was a vote of confidence for women’s football in Canberra in particular.

While excitement is building around a potential expansion into the A-League Men, Fotopoulos believes that the current moment represents an even greater opportunity for the women’s game.

“If I was to look at any other time in history, this is probably the strongest time to invest in women’s football,” Fotopoulos said.

 

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