Football for fires event sidelined by global pandemic

The #FootballForFires fund-raising match that had attracted the support of some of the world’s greatest players of the past decade is unable to proceed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promoter Lou Sticca, from Tribal Sports Group, who was organising the event in conjunction with Football Federation Australia, said all concerned had accepted the game could not go ahead in the current global state of uncertainty.

Mr Sticca said fans who had purchased tickets for #FootballForFires would receive full refunds.

“While our collective thoughts remain with those devastated by the Australian bushfires last summer, global circumstances have forced us to abandon the Football For Fires game,” Mr Sticca said.

“The health and safety of players and supporters needs to be our priority at this time.

“We were also faced with insurmountable challenges to secure players for international travel and arrival prior to the game, the prospect of mandatory 14-days in isolation, and a reduced stadium capacity for the game.

“We have been left with no alternative but to cancel the event.”

Organizers have thanked those who donated to Red Cross Australia’s fund for Football For Fires, with special mention to donations from Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), Celtic Football Club (Scotland), Sydney FC, New York Cosmos (USA), Fiorentina (Italy) among others.

Star players from 16 nations, including some of the biggest names in Australian football, had committed to the Football For Fires match that was announced on 28 January after the devastating bushfires of the 2019/20 summer.

The game was originally set down for ANZ Stadium on Saturday 23 May but was re-scheduled for Bankwest Stadium on Saturday 3 October.

All purchased tickets will be fully refunded, with Ticketek to contact all purchasers to advise of the refund process.

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How James Johnson Is Shaping Canada Soccer’s Billion-Dollar World Cup Commercial Future

Canada Soccer has confirmed a renewed long-term commercial agreement with Canadian Soccer Media and Entertainment, marking a significant reset in the federation’s revenue strategy as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The updated partnership extends CSME’s control of Canada Soccer’s commercial rights, including sponsorship, broadcast and media licensing, while introducing revised financial terms designed to provide the federation with greater long-term revenue certainty and growth potential. The agreement replaces a previous deal that faced heavy scrutiny from players and stakeholders over concerns surrounding commercial valuation and distribution of revenues.

CSME, led by Group Chief Executive James Johnson, played a central role in renegotiating the structure, which aims to better align commercial returns with the sport’s accelerating domestic and international profile. The revised framework is expected to support increased investment across national team programs, commercial development and broader football growth initiatives.

The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for Canadian football, with momentum building across both men’s and women’s programs and global attention increasing ahead of 2026. Securing a more sustainable commercial model is viewed as critical to ensuring the federation can maximise opportunities generated by hosting football’s largest tournament.

The renewed partnership also signals a shift toward long-term commercial planning, providing Canada Soccer with a more stable financial platform as it looks to strengthen its competitive standing and expand participation nationwide.

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