Football leads in Australian participation, AusPlay reveals

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Image credit: Football Australia

Football Australia proudly acknowledges the Australian Sports Commission’s latest AusPlay survey, highlighting football’s enduring popularity in Australia.

The Australian Sports Commission’s recent AusPlay survey conducted between July 2023 and July 2024, surveyed 40,000 Australians and highlights several key data supporting the sustained growth of football in Australia through high participation rates and engagement.

The survey indicates football as the highest-ranked sport in Australia, beating out other popular team sports, such as basketball, netball, and Australian rules football. 

The survey uncovered a few positive health trends for Australians, 84% of Australian adults engage in physical activity, and informal participation in sports is increasing, seeming to be the preferred option for individuals or Australians exercising with family and friends. 

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, spoke about football’s position in Australia, the sport’s inclusivity, and community recognition that supports FA.

“The AusPlay findings reaffirm football’s place at the heart of Australian sport. These participation numbers speak to football’s inclusivity and its power to connect people of all backgrounds, genders and ages, whether they are new to the game or lifelong fans. I want to thank the entire football community – including our Member Federations, the A-League clubs, all the community clubs around Australia, the participants, and the countless volunteers – who contribute so much to our game’s success and growth,” he said via press release.

FA initiatives can be credited with increasing participation rates for youths and adolescents across Australia, the Coles MiniRoos program has created an environment where young Australians feel supported and enjoy playing football.

The Club Changer program is a partnership initiative between the FA and the Australian Sports Commission that assists football clubs in creating an inclusive environment, safe spaces, and sustainability for long-term success. 

Impact factors that occur away from FA, state governing initiatives and programs that contribute to football’s success in participation across Australia are the successes of international football teams, the Matildas, and the Subway Socceroos. FA has grown a strong volunteer culture, with 145 million hours being annually contributed by volunteers supporting football in Australia. 

FA is aligning with the Australian Sport Participation Strategy Play Well. FA is leaning into the report findings to tailor its programs to participation needs, arranging informal and less structured play options and emphasising its focus on building stronger communities through football. 

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Chelsea and Tottenham Arrive in Sydney as Premier League Giants Launch Australian Pre-Season Tour

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Image Credit: Chelsea FC

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have touched down in Sydney ahead of their pre-season tour of Australia for the Sydney Super Cup. Both clubs have wasted little time settling into life in Sydney, beginning preparations for a busy week of training sessions, fan events and pre-season fixtures.

The London rivals will each face A-League opposition before meeting meeting in the marquee fixture of the tour at Accor Stadium, bringing two of England’s biggest clubs to Australian shores as they build towards the 2026-27 Premier League season.

For Chelsea, the tour represents the first opportunity for supporters to see new manager Xabi Alonso lead the Blues. Meanwhile, Spurs fans will be eager to see improvements from Roberto De Zerbi’s men following their narrow escape from relegation last season.

Chelsea will open their tour against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday 28 July, while Tottenham will face Sydney FC on Wednesday 29 July, before the clubs meet in the headline fixture of the tour on Saturday 1 August.

The clash will mark the first time the London rivals have faced each other outside the UK. The tour is another sign of Australia’s growing stature as a destination for elite European clubs during the northern hemisphere off-season

With Chelsea and Tottenham among the Premier League’s biggest global brands, the fixtures are expected to attract strong crowds and give Australian football fans a rare opportunity to watch top-flight English footballers in person.

The tour will also feature the Chelsea Women’s team, which will take on the A-League Women’s All Stars in a showcase fixture on Wednesday 12 August.

Football Australia Chairman Reflects on Socceroos World Cup Campaign, Points to Reform Agenda Ahead

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Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac has released a statement reflecting on the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, which ended in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt in the Round of 32 on 3 July.

Isaac thanked the players, coaching staff, medical and performance teams, and volunteers who supported the campaign, saying they represented the country with professionalism, humility and pride.

He said the tournament had brought Australians together across every state, culture and generation, calling it one of the few sporting moments capable of uniting the country.

Isaac linked the campaign to Football Australia’s broader governance work, pointing to the organisation’s recently announced reform agenda and the Enduring Principles adopted last year: Better Access to Football for All, More Football, Better Football, More People Enjoying Football, and Winning Football.

He said those principles, together with the organisation’s values of Welcome, Ready, Connect, Excel and Protect, formed the basis for every decision Football Australia makes.

“World Cups do not define our leadership,” Isaac said, adding that they instead reveal progress made long before a ball is kicked.

He said Football Australia’s responsibility extended beyond preparing for the next tournament to strengthening the institution that supports every tournament that follows.

Isaac said progress in a sporting ecosystem of Australian football’s scale depends less on any single body’s authority than on the willingness of clubs, federations, leagues and government to align around shared goals.

He said the organisation would study the lessons of the campaign carefully and continue refining its approach.

“Adaptability is not changing direction with every headline,” Isaac said. “It is improving the path while remaining true to the destination.”

Isaac framed his own role in terms of long-term stewardship, saying the game should be left in a stronger position for the generations that follow than it was for those who built it.

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