Football Queensland introduces new Futsal pyramid

Staff Writer
Football Queensland Futsal
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Football Queensland (FQ) have announced the launch of the FQ Futsal Premier League in a significant overhaul of the ongoing FQ Futsal competition structure. 

As part of the implementation of the FQ Futsal Strategy, the introduction of the FQ Futsal Premier League will create significant further growth opportunities in the form of a connected futsal pyramid. 

Senior futsal competitions in South East Queensland will be reorganised to build the foundations of a connected futsal pyramid.

FQ will introduce multiple tiers of FQ Futsal Premier Leagues for both senior men and women, with the F-League acting as the highest tier in the Futsal pyramid. 

“This is a monumental moment in the sport as we transition from an organic approach to growing the game, to one that provides clubs and players with a genuine pathway to represent Queensland,” FQ Manager – Futsal Vince Sciacca said. 

“There has been significant interest from existing and emerging futsal clubs wanting to join the state governing body as an FQ affiliated sport; this will provide them with the same level of governance framework such as player registration, competition management and member protection that exists in all other major sports. 

“This is part of the ongoing implementation of the FQ Futsal Strategy which is reforming the game and providing a long term sustainable model for the sport whilst we continue to foster the growth and development of clubs across the state.” 

In the junior competitions, the SEQ Futsal Premier League will be renamed the FQ Academy Futsal League as the top tier of the junior futsal pyramid – which will see the best young players in SEQ go head to head. 

Following its introduction earlier this year, the new FQ Junior Futsal Premier League will form the junior second tier through region based competitions.  

The 2025 season will see the introduction of promotion and relegation within the Queensland futsal pyramid for both senior and junior competitions, offering more opportunities for aspirational futsal clubs and providing a connected pyramid in the state. 

Regional futsal development will also be boosted within the new FQ futsal structure, following on from the successful FQ School Futsal Regional Championships launched this year. 

FQ will deliver the regionally centred competitions for both seniors and juniors to support current and emerging regional competition management centres, providing players with greater pathways and opportunities. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen pathways for improved player outcomes, further aligning with the national ambition to reimagine the Australian football player development ecosystem,” Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci said. 

“The implementation of this connected futsal pyramid showcases Football Queensland’s dedication to expanding the FQ Futsal Strategy state-wide.”   

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Football Victoria recognised in Pride in Sport Index 2026

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The Silver Status shows Football Victoria‘s commitment to providing Victorians with a safe, inclusive landscape for all to enjoy the beautiful game.

Everyone’s game

Earlier this month, the Australian Pride in Sport Awards recognised several organisations and individuals across the nation who continue to champion inclusive spaces in the world of sport.

Among the nominees was Football Victoria, who received the Silver Status. FV Executive Manager Equity, Programs and Government Relations, Karen Pearce, expressed her pride at the achievement.

“Achieving Silver Status in the Pride in Sport Index is an important reflection of the work being done across Football Victoria to ensure LGBTQ+ people feel safe, welcomed and included in our game,” Pearce said via official press release.

“We remain committed to embedding inclusive practices across all levels of football, and continuing to create environments where everyone can belong, participate and thrive.”

 

Inclusion matters

While recognition is always a positive reflection of successful work behind the scenes, it is important to remember what the work intends to achieve.

Football – and sport in general – is a unique opportunity to bring diverse communities together, and to compete, spectate and enjoy the game on an equal playing field.

Furthermore, as custodians of ‘the world’s game’, governing bodies, fans and players around the world all share the responsibility to empower marginalised groups to feel included.

Two months ago, The Premier League introduced their own initiative – Premier League With Pride – reflecting their own commitment to ensuring football grounds, schools and academies remain welcoming.

 

Final thoughts

There is no place for hate or abuse in football, whether on a grassroots field or professional stadium.

Football Victoria will continue its journey and commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community – at all levels of the game – for many seasons to come.

Football Queensland to celebrate Female Football Week with statewide events, awards and coaching programs

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Brighton women's football motion
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Football Queensland will mark the 2026 Female Football Week with a program of statewide events, competitions and professional development opportunities running from May 8-17, as the governing body continues to push for broader access and representation across all levels of the women’s game in Queensland.

The nationwide initiative, now a fixture on the Australian football calendar, provides a concentrated period of visibility for female participation across playing, coaching, officiating and administration: areas where structural underrepresentation has historically limited both the growth of the game and the opportunities available to women and girls within it.

“Female Football Week provides us with a valuable opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women and girls across our game while continuing to increase the accessibility of football in Queensland,” said Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci. “We encourage our clubs to host their own Female Football Week events and activations for female participants.”

 

Elite Competition Meets Community Access

The centrepiece of Football Queensland’s program is the return of the NPL Women’s Magic Round to Nudgee Recreation Reserve on May 8 and 9, featuring five NPL Women’s Round 13 clashes alongside a Girls United Junior Carnival and family-friendly activations. Each Magic Round game will feature an all-female refereeing panel, a deliberate and visible commitment to developing the next generation of female match officials at a moment when referee shortages are among the most pressing structural challenges facing the game nationally.

A Women in Football networking event will be held on the opening night of Magic Round, bringing together coaches, match officials and administrators. The inclusion of that event alongside elite competition is significant because it positions professional development and community building not as supplementary activities but as core components of what Female Football Week is for.

The Central Coast region will host its own Magic Round on May 16, featuring a Youth Girls game and three FQPL Central Coast Women’s matches, while a Darling Downs Junior Girls Day will take place at Captain Cook Park on the same day, extending the reach of the week’s programming beyond the southeast corner of the state into regional Queensland.

 

Coaching access as a structural priority

Football Queensland will deliver a series of female-only coaching courses around Female Football Week, with clubs also able to express interest in hosting their own. The initiative addresses one of the most persistent barriers to female representation in football administration- its coaching pipeline.

Female coaches remain significantly underrepresented at all levels of the game in Australia, and the barriers to accreditation, including cost, availability and the cultural environment of mixed coaching courses, compound one another in ways that individual ambition alone cannot overcome. Female-only courses create environments where women can develop without those barriers, and their delivery during Female Football Week signals that the commitment extends beyond celebration into structural change.

The Girls United Carnivals, running in both Metro and Far North and Gulf regions alongside the Q-League Schools program at Meakin Park, extend that access to players at the earliest stages of their football journey.

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