Football Australia considering last minute 2023 AFC Asian Cup bid

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Football Australia have confirmed they are considering a late bid to host the AFC Asian Cup from June to July next year, which would provide an extraordinary opening act to a packed winter of football that already features the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

The Asian Cup is scheduled to start on June 16, 2023, with the final to be played a month later. Just four days beyond that, New Zealand’s Football Ferns and the Matildas will kick off their group stage matches at Eden Park and the Sydney Football Stadium respectively.

Football Australia has until June 30 to submit a bid to the AFC for the continental tournament, which requires relocation after China’s withdrawal last month citing their zero-covid policy and ongoing issues relating to the pandemic.

South Korea appears the most likely candidate to host what would be their first Asian Cup since 1960, after their FA formally announced last week that they would meet the AFC’s submission deadline. Last month, South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol mandated his sports minister to bid for the event after dining with the playing squad.

But they may now meet competition from Australia, who famously lifted the title as hosts in 2015 before a crowd of over 76,000 at Sydney’s Olympic Park. Coincidentally it was South Korea they defeated in the final, having reversed the result from their group stage meeting.

“We are making enquiries and having parallel discussions with the Asian Football Confederation and Governments to determine the possibilities for Australia to host this tournament,” an FA Spokesperson said.

The 32-match tournament hosted by Australia drew an average of over 20,000 fans, boosted by the Socceroos drawing an average of 44,500 across their six games. Matches were hosted in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle.

That edition of the tournament featured sixteen teams; the 2023 edition will be the second under the AFC’s expanded format, meaning any successful Australian bid would need to house 24 nations across 51 games.

Qualification for the tournament was completed last month, with Tajikistan to feature for the first time. Hong Kong have qualified for the first time since 1968, and 2007 hosts Malaysia have qualified on merit for the first time since 1980.

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Football NSW to Build on 2024 Participation Record in 2025

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Image credit: Football NSW

Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.

With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport’s trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.

“Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities,” Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.

“We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game.”

The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport’s expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.

Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.

Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.

The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.

Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game’s ecosystem.

The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.

“There’s a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season,” Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.

For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.

The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.

Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.

With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.

Register now for 2025 by clicking here.

Auckland FC welcomes Alvarium as Premium Partner

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Image Credit: Auckland FC Website

Auckland FC has embraced New Zealand based wealth management firm Alvarium as a premium partner to the club.

As a part of the collaboration, Alvarium logos and advertisement material will be featured on Auckland FC’s game day shirt sleeve.

This provides Alvarium with exclusive and highly prized visible branding, enabling the club to be seen more easily by a wealth of A-League fans.

Chief Executive Officer of Alvarium, Malcolm McKinnon, outlined his organisation’s enthusiasm for the partnership.

“Our team is always looking for opportunities to support commendable partners who combine high performance with great community engagement. We believe we have found that in abundance with Auckland FC,” McKinnon said in a press release.

Chief Executive Officer of Auckland FC, Nick Becker highlighted the shared aims of both organisations.

“Like Alvarium, we at Auckland FC are focused on bringing together the right mix of ideas and opportunities to achieve the best possible outcomes,” he said via press release.

Auckland FC expresses the deal with Alvarium is reflective of the club’s commitment to “With Everyone, For Everyone”, as the firm has a history of supporting the community. The organisation was a founding advocate of The King’s Trust, which helps enable young people for the future ahead of them.

Additionally, the firm is a key partner of SailGP, a team that seeks to protect ocean welfare and advance environmental concerns across New Zealand and on the global stage.

Furthermore, Alvarium is also a team supporter of the New Zealand Paralympics team, demonstrating the company’s commitment to social change in sport to help positively boost community awareness of diversity and disability.

As a company, Alvarium is excited to join forces with Auckland FC to bolster the firm’s brand to a local audience across New Zealand through a new and lively club with a passionate fanbase, whilst expanding the company’s advertising to an Australian market.

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