Football Australia announces Legacy ’23 Ambassador Program

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Football Australia has announced the line-up set to represent the Legacy ’23 Ambassador Program in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

With the 2023 edition of the tournament expected to be the biggest and best ever to be staged – as well as the first to be hosted in the Southern hemisphere – the Legacy ’23 Ambassador Program will play a critical role in raising awareness and advocacy for the variety of important initiatives set out in the Legacy ’23 Plan.

The Legacy ‘23 Plan has been developed to shape empowering opportunities and deliver tangible outcomes for the next generation of Australians – both on and off the field.

With the full Legacy ’23 squad member line-up to be unveiled over the coming weeks, the first Ambassadors to be announced are:

  • Julie Dolan AM, Inaugural Captain and Matildas Cap #1 (Australian Women’s National Team)
  • Kate Jenkins, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and member of the Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Awer Mabil, current Socceroo, Cap #597 (Australian Men’s National Team)

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson on the program:

“As one of the nation’s most loved sports, played in every community across the country, we are so proud to partner with a diverse and enthusiastic group of trailblazers to support and advocate for Legacy ’23.

“Each Ambassador brings a passion for the game and a genuine belief in its ability to shape and contribute to Australian society through our hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM.  They have a deep care for the community and drive to do what’s best for the future of our game, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”

The Legacy ’23 Plan, developed by Football Australia, will ensure Australia realises the long-term benefits that hosting this prestigious global sporting event can have on every community across the country. From economic, social, physical, and mental health benefits, to its promotion of social cohesion and multicultural inclusion, Legacy ’23 will introduce new and expand upon existing programs to ensure the future of football in Australia is stronger than ever before.

The programs will aim to increase participation, deliver more inclusive community facilities, optimise high performance and development pathways, build capacity in women’s leadership to shape the future of Australian sport as well as boost tourism, trade and international relations as Australia and New Zealand recover from the global pandemic.

As the world’s biggest women’s sporting event, it is expected that over a billion people across the world will tune in to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and that the growth of women’s football will continue with a forecasted 407,000 new female participants by 2027.

For more information on Legacy ’23 head to https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/legacy23

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FQ Reinstates WinterFest 2026 at the Sunshine Coast

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Image Credit: Football Queensland

Football Queensland (FQ) has confirmed WinterFest, the state’s premier junior football carnival, will return to the Sunshine Coast from 1 to 5 July 2026; this time at a new home in the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Visit Sunshine Coast, the five-day carnival will span USC and Sunshine Coast Wanderers FC, hosting Under 9 to Under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls teams from every corner of the state.

WinterFest is not simply a competition. Within FQ’s development framework, the carnival serves a dual function, to expose elite junior players to FQ Technical staff, whilst providing emerging referees with live matchday experience under the guidance of senior officials.

“The carnival plays an important role in nurturing not only our most promising young players, who can showcase their abilities in front of FQ Technical staff who continue to monitor their ongoing development, but also our cohort of emerging referees from across Queensland,” said Ryan Fett, FQ General Manager- Football, Infrastructure & Club Development.

The shift to USC is deliberate. FQ has signalled an intention to elevate the event experience year-on-year, and a university campus venue, with its infrastructure and capacity, reflects that ambition more than a traditional football ground would.

Beyond the Pitch

The tournament’s footprint, however, extends well beyond the pitch. With thousands of visiting families descending on the region across five days, WinterFest functions as a significant economic activation for the Sunshine Coast during what is otherwise a quieter winter period.

“WinterFest brings enormous energy to the region, the USC and Buderim fields will be buzzing and the talent on show outstanding,” said Sunshine Coast Resilient Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg.

The language- “Resilient Economy”- is worth noting. Landsberg’s portfolio title alone signals how local government now frames junior sport: not as community goodwill, but as economic infrastructure.

His reference to Brisbane 2032 made that explicit. “As we move closer to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, these experiences are invaluable for aspiring athletes and equally important for boosting local tourism and supporting our businesses during the winter period.”

Whether a regional Under 11 carnival genuinely feeds an Olympic pipeline is debatable. What isn’t is that the political incentive to frame it that way, with 2032 drawing every level of government into the orbit of sport, is very real.

Football NSW partners with Deploy for Association Championships

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Image credit: Deploy Football

In an announcement released on Thursday this week, Football NSW revealed Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the Football NSW Association Championships.

New competition, new talents

The Association Championships, set to take place in July 2026 at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee, will replace the former Association Youth League.

Although the tournament has changed name, its purpose remains consistent: giving youth players the platform to showcase their talent on the football pitch.

In a display of unity and collective ambition, 18 Associations across New South Wales will enter representative teams, each one featuring gifted grassroots players looking to prove themselves against their peers.

“The Deploy FNSW Association Championships will provide a fantastic platform for our Associations to come together and celebrate the best of elite community football,” said Football NSW CEO, John Tsatsimas via official press release.

“This tournament is all about giving young players, coaches, and referees from every corner of the state a chance to shine and develop in a competitive, supportive environment.”

The partnership between Deploy and Football NSW, therefore, is not merely about a name alteration. It is a collaboration which presents future grassroots talents with a platform and opportunity to compete.

 

Built on shared values

No partnership can succeed without both parties sharing a common goal or set of values. In this case, the alliance between Football NSW and Deploy is built on a commitment to supporting grassroots football and supplying players with quality resources and experiences to showcase their talent.

“Deploy is proud to partner with Football NSW as the Naming Rights Partner of the Association Championships. Community sport plays a vital role in bringing people together and building future leaders, both on and off the field,” explained Chief Commercial Officer at Deploy, Kurt Johnson.

“As long-time partners with Football NSW, this aligns perfectly with our strategy of creating balls designed for each age and skill level of the game, ranging from junior training balls to professional match balls perfect for the competitive environment like the Association Championships.”

Furthermore, with hundreds of participants including players, referees, coaches and supporters due to attend the tournament, the partnership’s impact will extend right across the state of New South Wales.

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