Football Australia and Commonwealth Bank begin partnership to grow women’s football

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Football Australia have today announced the start of a game-changing partnership with Commonwealth Bank.

Originally announced in April this year, today’s newly formed partnership will see Commonwealth Bank become one of the largest investors in Australian women’s football.

Millions of dollars are set to be injected into the elite women’s game and grassroots initiatives across the country over the next four years.

The bank will become the official partner and bank of the Commonwealth Bank Matildas, Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas, Commonwealth Bank Junior Matildas, Socceroos and more.

In addition, the partnership supports Football Australia’s 15-year vision and strategic agenda to increase women’s and girls’ participation in the sport that was pledged in the Legacy ’23 plan.

Monique Macleod, Commonwealth Bank Group Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, acknowledged the significance of such a landmark moment for CBA and Australian football.

“This is an exciting time for women’s football; the Matildas recent performance on the world stage is showing young Australian women and girls they can achieve great things. We are ready to play our part in strengthening the game at all levels as we head towards 2023 and beyond,” she said.

“We are delighted to partner with Football Australia in supporting the Commonwealth Bank Matildas in their quest for glory on the world stage, and the future growth and development of the game across all levels.”

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson added: “Our partnership with Commonwealth Bank represents a clear and strong alignment of values between our two organisations. It is also a significant endorsement of our vision for Australian football and our strategic priority to anchor the growth of the game in women’s football.

“We are already seeing Commonwealth Bank’s commitment to helping Football Australia provide opportunities for all Australians to play football, and to further strengthen the Commonwealth Bank Matildas’ position as an iconic brand, by helping us to reach more Australians than ever before.

“In recent weeks we’ve seen the Commonwealth Bank Matildas set the record for the largest audience for a women’s team sport in Australian TV history, with an average television audience of 1.87 million tuning in to watch Australia and Sweden in Tokyo. This is a sign of how this team is capturing the hearts and minds of Australians everywhere and with Commonwealth Bank’s support, we believe this team will continue to grow and reach new heights over the coming years.

“Commonwealth Bank’s support for the Socceroos also comes at a time when the team has reached its highest FIFA ranking since 2011, and readies itself for the next phase of the Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar with upcoming matches against China and Vietnam in the September Men’s International Match Calendar window.”

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Inspiring the future of women’s football: The Growing Football Community grant now open

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Image Credit: Football Australia

Grassroots football is where the game grows. It is where players find their first team, coaches develop skills, and clubs function as part of local communities. Football Australia’s Growing Football Community Grant is designed to strengthen those foundations, with a particular focus on creating more opportunities for women and girls to play, coach and stay involved in football. The 2026/27 program is now open, and eligible clubs and associations can apply for grants of up to $5,000.

What is the Growing Football Community Grant?

The grant forms part of Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund, which was established with the support of CommBank following the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 hosted in Australia. Its main goal is simple: help clubs and associations attract and retain women and girls in football. Funding can support projects that improve the experience of existing players or create new pathways into the game. It can also help clubs develop coaches and build more inclusive, safer environments.

The program is about more than getting people onto the pitch. It aims to create the conditions that encourage participants to keep coming back.

Who does it support?

The program is aimed at eligible football clubs and associations across Australia. For participants, that can mean new opportunities to play, and for coaches, it can mean better access to education and development. For clubs, it can provide practical support to remove barriers that can make participation harder.

Previous grants have supported a wide range of grassroots projects, and these have included ‘come and try’ programs, female-only football activities, subsidised registration fees, improved playing uniforms, coaching education and leadership programs. The program also has a strong regional and community focus. Football Australia says 93 of the 297 clubs supported across the first three grant rounds were from regional and remote communities.

What is the community benefit?

The biggest impact can extend beyond the individual player. A club that creates a stronger pathway for girls can help build participation across an entire community. Better coaching can improve the experience for players. More women in coaching and leadership can create new role models. Removing financial or practical barriers can also make football more accessible.

That can help clubs build stronger connections with families and their local communities. Football Australia’s stated objectives include providing quality experiences for new and returning participants, developing community coaches and helping clubs create inclusive and safe environments that support the retention of women and girls. Recent recipients show how that can work in practice. Broulee Stingrays Soccer Club is using grant funding to support a female coaching pathway in the Eurobodalla region, including subsidised coaching courses for girls from the age of 14.

How can clubs apply and key dates

Applications for the Growing Football Community grants opened on the 8th of September. The deadline is 10 pm AEDT on Tuesday the 20th of October. Clubs and associations should first review the Growing Football Community Grant guidelines and check their eligibility.

Applicants then need to develop their project and budget before completing the online application. The application asks clubs to explain how their project aligns with the program objectives, the barriers they face and how the funding will help address those barriers. Successful applications are scheduled to be announced in December, with funded projects to be delivered during 2027.

For clubs looking to grow women’s and girls’ football, the grant offers an opportunity to turn a local idea into a practical community project. The impact does not stop with one season. Stronger pathways, better coaching and more welcoming clubs can help build a football community where more women and girls can start playing, stay involved and find their place in the game.

Does The Australian Championship Have a Long-Term Future? Optimism Remains Despite Silence

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Image Credit: South Melbourne FC

THE ASSOCIATION of Australian Football Clubs has reconvened to re-engage Football Australia on the long-term future of the Australian Championship, which returns next month for its second season.

The AAFC is preparing a formal approach to head office in the aim of establishing the next steps for the tournament’s development. Little has been said from FA about its long-term prospects since South Melbourne won the inaugural title last summer.

Operated last season as an end-of-year tournament for clubs pulled from NPL competitions around the country, under the (former) model of the UEFA Champions League, it was generally lauded by those who partook as a success. This year, the same format returns.

But there remains a lack of certainty across constituent clubs as to where the Championship is headed. Those spoken to by Soccerscene, both within and outside the ‘foundation’ ranks, retain a firm desire to see it become a full-blown national second division – as was the competition’s working title for much of its development process.

“We’re now in the process of pushing that timeframe [for future discussion] because the clubs’ concern is if you just wait another twelve months, and do nothing towards establishing the home and away competition, then another year will pass,’ said AAFC chairman Nick Galatas.

‘We’re keen on re-establishing the impetus for what we say the clubs and the fans actually want, and that is a proper competition that will be the bridge for what we all want.

“We need to link our game from bottom to top and give more opportunities to our promising young players.”

It is the general view of a number of foundation clubs that discussions with FA have always been due to re-open following this upcoming second season; however, actual specifics have proved harder to find.

“As an aspiring club, we were under the understanding that after two years there’d be a review for the potential of promotion and relegation [to the A-League],’ said one club president from within the eight foundation clubs.

“Or, to discuss expansion into the A-League. We’re not asking to get rid of A-League teams; we’re asking for a connection via expansion. For example: ‘keep playing this competition, keep performing strongly, and then if you meet the criteria, you can apply for A-League expansion.’”

It is nearing three years since Football Australia selected its eight foundation clubs, from a pool of 32 that were invited to enter its Request For Proposal phase. At the time, it was stated that a refined process – to commence early-2024 – would seek to find an additional two-to-four clubs to join them.

That this has not happened means the eight sides still fail to represent any state outside New South Wales and Victoria, a criticism levelled at the competition from its first day. From the outside, this continued inactivity could be construed as a lack of progress – although that’s not to say inactivity is the case.

“We’ve explored it a few times, and FA have been really open about where they’re up to, and really what the trajectory is,” said the president of another club, who were part of the Request For Proposal phase, but were not selected as a foundation club.

“I would describe their current position as ‘we’re doing it, we’ll review what we’re doing, and then we’ll plan to either keep doing it, or expand it.’ Does that mean expansion will happen? Not necessarily.

‘Maybe they’ll do that review and there’s a sense the timing’s not right, there are too many challenges… but I’m not getting any indication that that’s the case.’

Football Australia signed its Championship broadcast deal with SBS in September 2025 for two seasons with an option for a third. Last week, the partnership announced an increase in linear broadcasting for 2026 with an additional match per round to be broadcast on Thursday nights. The entire competition is available via SBS On Demand.

Football Australia has also added a Penalty Shootout Bonus Point Model, where drawn matches in the group stage will see sides awarded a standard one point each, before heading to the penalty spot to contest an additional point.

The competition also remains without a naming rights partner, while participant clubs have this season been charged an entry fee, which was not the case last season. Football Australia continues to foot the travel bill for parties up to a certain number for away fixtures.

Football Australia was contacted for comment.

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