Tasmania’s dream of a football home is one step closer

Tasmania’s football community has welcomed a $350,000 commitment from both the Liberal and Labor Governments, bringing the vision of a dedicated Home of Football one step closer.

The funding will help lay the groundwork for a world-class facility at Wentworth Park in Hobart, with plans including six full-size fields, five-a-side courts, and elite-standard change rooms and training spaces.

Football is the heartbeat of team sport in Tasmania, and with more than 31,000 players involved, this funding will help the game stay strong for years to come.

With momentum building behind the long-awaited Home of Football project, Football Tasmania CEO Tony Pignata says the new facility will deliver far more than just a place to play.

“This is an exciting milestone for Tasmanian football. Our players, coaches, and families deserve a facility that reflects the growth and passion of our football community. The Home of Football will be a game-changer — not just for sport, but for social connection, youth engagement, and healthy living across the state,” he said via press release.

President of Football Tasmania, Bob Gordon, mentioned the demographic for which football is popular.

“This is thrilling news for the football community,” he said via Pulse Tasmania.

“Football is the most popular team sport for young Tasmanians, including nearly 35% in the 9-11 age group and we desperately need more facilities to cater to this growing demand.”

The development of a dedicated Home of Football in Tasmania is a fantastic and timely initiative. Football holds a special place in the community, considering the number of players already involved, and this new facility promises to support both grassroots and elite levels of the game.

Beyond the pitches and training rooms, this space can help build connections, bring communities closer, and inspire young people to get active and engaged. It’s a real opportunity to strengthen the social fabric while growing the game for generations to come.

Football Tasmania’s has demonstrated a strong commitment to partnering with all levels of government and local communities to realise this much-anticipated project.

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SBS expands Australian Championship broadcast coverage for 2026

The Australian Championship will enter its second season with an expanded broadcast partnership between Football Australia and SBS. The 2026 competition will feature two live SBS broadcasts in every round, marking an increase from the tournament’s debut season.

Thursday night football will form a key part of the new broadcast schedule. The opening match will see Preston Lions face Wollongong Wolves on October 15th, with the game broadcast live on SBS2 and SBS On Demand. Saturday football will also remain part of the free-to-air schedule; first up, Sutherland Sharks’ clash with South Melbourne on October 17th will be shown live on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The expanded agreement gives the competition a greater presence across SBS’s linear channels while retaining its full streaming coverage, with every match across the 2026 Australian Championship available live on SBS On Demand. The platform also provides full replays and highlights for viewers to access at their discretion.

In addition to SBS’ coverage, Football Australia will also stream the competition via YouTube.

The Australian Championship consists of a six-round group stage, finals beginning at quarter-finals from November 26, and a Grand Final scheduled currently between December 10-12.

It features 16 clubs from seven states and territories. The broadcast schedule places several historic fixtures in front of a national audience: South Melbourne will meet Sydney United 58 in a repeat of the 1999 NSL Grand Final, and Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions will also renew a rivalry that includes NSL Grand Final meetings in 1989 and 1990.

IMG takes commercial lead on inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup

IMG has been appointed to lead the global commercialisation of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, giving the new Southeast Asian national-team competition an established international sports business partner ahead of its first edition.

Under the strategic partnership, IMG will manage worldwide media and sponsorship rights sales while also overseeing broadcast production for the tournament, which takes place from 24 September to 5 October across Indonesia and Hong Kong, China.

The inaugural competition will feature 14 national teams, including all 11 ASEAN members alongside guest nations, with matches split between two divisions. Division 2 fixtures will be played in Jakarta and Badung, while Division 2 matches will be played in Hong Kong.

The agency’s role will include selling sponsorship and media inventory internationally while helping establish the broadcast infrastructure required to present the tournament to audiences outside Southeast Asia.

The partnership builds on IMG’s existing strategic relationship with PT Garuda Sepak Bola Indonesia, which has been working with the Football Association of Indonesia since 2025 on areas including commercial strategy, media rights, production and digital development.

For FIFA, the tournament creates another international football property in a region with a large and increasingly connected football audience.

For IMG, it adds another major regional property to a football portfolio that already includes competitions and organisations across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The immediate challenge will be turning the inaugural tournament into a sustainable commercial property capable of attracting broadcasters and sponsors beyond its first edition.

If successful, the FIFA ASEAN Cup could provide Southeast Asian national teams with a recurring commercial platform while giving IMG another foothold in one of football’s developing markets.

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