FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to leave $10 million legacy for NSW football

Staff Writer

Football in NSW will receive a $10 million boost from the NSW Government as a legacy of hosting matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

The NSW Football Legacy Program will support football at all levels through the construction of new community facilities, participation initiatives, high performance, leadership and development programs as well as tourism and international engagement.

Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stuart Ayres, believes the NSW Football Legacy Program will ensure everyone involved in football across NSW will benefit from the state hosting matches at the tournament.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will take football in this country to unprecedented levels,” Ayres said.

“Sydney will host more matches than any other host city and the NSW Football Legacy Program will ensure everyone, from girls and boys lacing up their boots for the first time at the local park to our elite A-League Women, will benefit from NSW hosting matches at the tournament.

“I encourage the football family to apply for grants when the Legacy Fund opens later this year.”

Football Australia CEO James Johnson added the NSW Football Legacy Fund will enable the football community throughout NSW to support the growth of football well beyond the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

“One of the core objectives of our Legacy ’23 plan and Australia’s co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is to create enduring tangible benefits for the community, and thanks to the establishment of the NSW Football Legacy Fund by the NSW Government, more people throughout the State will benefit from new and enhanced football-specific programs and facilities for many years to come.”

Football NSW Deputy Chair Fiona Lang was thrilled about the significant impact the Fund would have on community football.

“From the moment Australia was announced as the co-host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, we have been working hard to ensure a significant legacy is felt across the entire NSW football community,” she said.

“This Fund will support our Associations and Clubs to build capacity and capabilities to meet the needs of our fast-growing football community, which will champion future generations of participants.”

Football Australia Head of Women’s Football, Women’s World Cup Legacy & Inclusion, Sarah Walsh, viewed today’s announcement as a representation of a significant milestone for Football in NSW.

“As Australia’s largest community sport, we are experiencing extraordinary growth in women and girls’ participation,” she said.

“As we strive for 50/50 gender participation both on and off the field, the NSW Football Legacy Fund will deliver much needed investment across the entire football ecosystem. We look forward to working together with NSW Government to ensure that together we reach this goal.”

Northern NSW Football CEO David Eland concluded; “The NSW Football Legacy Fund aligns with NNSWF’s Strategic Plan and provides NNSWF with a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to partner with government to secure an enduring legacy for our game and communities.

“NNSWF’s Board of Directors have committed to complement the NSW government’s investment through the engagement of a dedicated Legacy Workforce consisting of three full-time staff who will assist affiliated clubs and stakeholders to engage and take advantage of the various programs, services and funding opportunities aligned to the NSW Football Legacy Fund.”

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Football Has the Audience. Does It Have the Commercial Strategy?

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Image Credit: One Nil Media

Soccerscene has launched Survey 4: Commercial Confidence in Football, calling on clubs, sponsors, governing bodies, commercial leaders and football industry professionals to assess whether the game is making the most of its enormous commercial potential.

Football has the audience, participation base and community reach to be one of Australia’s most powerful commercial platforms. But does the industry have the commercial strategy, professionalism and infrastructure required to turn that potential into sustainable growth?

That is the question at the centre of Soccerscene’s latest industry research.

The survey examines how attractive grassroots football is to potential commercial partners, what industry professionals believe is limiting football’s commercial potential, and whether clubs are presenting themselves professionally enough to sponsors.

It also explores what sponsors value most when engaging with football – from community reach and participation scale to brand alignment, values and purpose – as well as whether improved facilities could directly contribute to stronger sponsorship outcomes.

Is football fully capitalising on its commercial opportunity?

Football continues to provide brands with access to highly engaged communities across grassroots, community and elite environments. Yet the commercial landscape remains fragmented, with clubs operating with vastly different levels of resources, capability, governance, media infrastructure and commercial expertise.

Soccerscene’s survey is designed to capture the industry’s perspective on where the opportunities exist – and where football may be leaving commercial value on the table.

The research will look specifically at four key areas:

  • Commercial attractiveness – How attractive is grassroots football as a commercial partnership?
  • Commercial barriers – What is holding football back from reaching its full commercial potential?
  • Club professionalism – Are clubs presenting themselves effectively and professionally to sponsors?
  • Sponsor value – What are sponsors really looking for when they invest in football?

The survey also asks whether better facilities would have a direct impact on sponsorship outcomes, highlighting the potential relationship between infrastructure, commercial presentation and investment.

Have your say

Soccerscene is encouraging football clubs, sponsors, commercial professionals, governing bodies, administrators, media professionals and industry stakeholders to participate.

The findings will contribute to Soccerscene’s ongoing program of industry research, designed to provide a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing football and the organisations operating within it.

Take the Survey: Commercial Confidence in Football

Complete the Commercial Confidence in Football Survey here

The survey will close on 30 August 2026 at midnight, with responses received before the deadline included in the final analysis.

Football has the audience. The question is whether it has the commercial strategy to match.

Football Queensland’s Logan hub plan rejected by council

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Image Credits: Football Queensland

Football Queensland’s plans for a major new football hub at Meakin Park have been rejected by Logan City Council. The proposed $76.1 million redevelopment aimed to create a state home for football in Queensland.

Council unanimously rejected Football Queensland’s request for longer-term leases and additional land at the Slacks Creek site. The decision leaves the organisation’s current leases in place. The proposed development would have delivered new playing fields, elite training facilities and a dedicated home for Football Queensland.

Three-stage development

The first stage of Queensland Football’s development carried an $8.5 million price tag. It would upgrade fields, lighting, drainage and irrigation across Meakin and Mappas parks. The goal was to create a six-field, international-standard training venue.

The second stage represented the largest investment. Football Queensland planned to spend $55.3 million on a new headquarters at the adjoining Queens Park site. The facility would include a Women and Girls Academy, sports science facilities, sports medicine and strength and conditioning services.

A third $12.3 million stage would add an indoor futsal academy and two synthetic fields. Football Queensland said the project could create a major football precinct for the region. It also saw the facility playing a role in Queensland’s preparations for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Lease decision creates roadblock

Queensland’s governing body sought a 25-year lease with an option for another 25 years. Chief executive Robert Cavallucci said longer tenure was essential to secure government funding and move the project forward. The organisation has around three years remaining on its existing leases.

Council took a different view. Concerns included community access, funding certainty, future costs and the level of use at the existing facilities. Councillors also questioned whether a long-term arrangement would deliver enough benefit to Logan residents and grassroots clubs. Logan Council has now ordered a review of Football Queensland’s performance under its current lease.

Grassroots football at the centre

The decision highlights a wider issue for football infrastructure. Major facilities can provide elite pathways, sports science and high-performance opportunities, but unless councils can ensure local players and clubs can access the fields, they will be rejected.

Meakin Park already serves several sporting organisations, including football users and community sporting groups. Football Queensland said it had invested almost $2 million at Meakin Park and Mappas fields. It also argued the precinct operates at around 130 per cent capacity. For Queensland football, the challenge now is finding a model that can deliver high-performance facilities while expanding access for the community.

The proposal may have been rejected, but the need for better football infrastructure remains. With participation growing and Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games approaching, the debate over where and how Queensland builds its next generation of football facilities is unlikely to disappear.

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