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Women’s football in Australia is thriving like never before, but behind the record-breaking crowds and rising participation lies a growing need for deeper, long-term support at the grassroots level.

It’s no surprise that women’s football has seen a major rise in popularity over the past few years.

A big part of that growth was driven by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which was held right here in Australia.

The tournament saw the Matildas make an incredible run to the semi-finals, winning over the nation and breaking multiple television records in the process.

Channel 7 alone reached 18.6 million viewers throughout the tournament, and the Matildas’ semi-final against England became the most-watched TV program in more than 20 years, with an average audience of 7.2 million and a total reach of 11.15 million.

The impact went far beyond the screen, inspired by the Matildas’ performance and the excitement of hosting the tournament, more than 21,000 women and girls picked up football for the first time.

By the end of 2024, over 158,000 women and girls were playing across Australia — a 16% increase from the previous year.

But with this incredible rise in interest and participation, new challenges have started to surface — so what exactly are they?

One of the biggest areas in women’s football that still desperately needs support is adequate infrastructure.

As more women and girls take up the game, the pressure on clubs to provide adequate, modern facilities has grown — and in many cases, the infrastructure simply isn’t keeping up.

A 2024 report by Football Australia, revealed that only two in five clubs nationwide have change rooms that are considered female-friendly, that means a lot of clubs are still lacking basic necessities like separate spaces for men and women.

As the number of women and girls taking part in football continues to grow, these shortcomings are starting to seriously impact clubs on the ground.

David Cvetkovski, president of the Preston Lions Football Club, mentioned that after the Women’s World Cup, the club saw a 30% spike in girls signing up to play. While that level of interest is a positive sign for the sport, it has stretched the club’s resources thin — especially when it comes to basic facilities.

Right now, the Preston Lions don’t even have enough female toilets to accommodate the growing number of players.

Cvetkovski didn’t mince words, calling infrastructure investment in the women’s game “light years behind.” He believes this lack of development is holding back progress — and he’s not alone.

When clubs don’t have the right facilities, it’s not just an inconvenience; it directly limits players’ access to quality training environments, which in turn affects their development and performance.

Poor infrastructure also sends a bigger message, that the women’s game is still not being treated with the same seriousness or respect.

In response to these concerns, the Albanese Government introduced the “Play Our Way” program, pledging $200 million to improve infrastructure for women and girls in sport. The initiative aims to deliver safe, inclusive, and sustainable facilities, equipment, and support across Australia.

While the program has certainly helped, some — including former Socceroo and advocate Craig Foster — believe it still falls short.

That concern grows even louder when you consider football officials estimate that $2.9 billion is needed just to bring grassroots facilities across the country up to standard.

Right now, the growth of women’s football — especially at the grassroots level — is moving faster than the funding and resources trying to support it.

Without long-term, targeted investment in infrastructure, there’s a real risk that the progress made in women’s football could stall.

And that would mean countless girls and women missing out on the opportunity to thrive, develop, and feel truly supported in the sport they love.

Another major challenge currently facing women and girls in football is the growing cost of participating at the grassroots level. While financial barriers impact both the men’s and women’s sides of the sport, the effect on the women’s game is especially concerning.

At a time when there is a strong push to grow, develop, and create more opportunities for female players, however, rising costs are threatening to slow that momentum.

Although football is often seen as an accessible sport, the reality for many families tells a different story.

According to an AusPlay survey conducted between July 2023 and December 2024, the average annual cost for a child to play football was $513—more than double the average cost of playing Aussie Rules, which remains significantly cheaper in comparison.

In Sydney’s inner west, families registering their children with the Strathfield Strikers Football Club are paying around $480 just for registration, and that’s before adding in the cost of uniforms, boots, shin pads, training gear, and travel.

For many households already dealing with the pressures of inflation, rising grocery bills, rent, and fuel prices, those football-related expenses can quickly become overwhelming.

As a result, Alexandra Georgopoulos, the female football co-officer at Strathfield Strikers, says one of the biggest challenges her club faces is the struggle to retain players because of the high costs.

In Victoria, Ringwood City is another example where fees for boys and girls under 12 and 13 start at $700, and they go up as the kids get older — something that’s led some families to pull their children out.

High registration fees are a major obstacle, particularly for families with more than one child playing, or those from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds, and as the cost of living continues to increase, families are being forced to make difficult choices.

So, what was once a fun and enriching activity is at risk of becoming inaccessible for many, especially for young girls at the grassroots level, where the foundations of the future women’s game are being built.

For women’s football in Australia to truly thrive long-term, the momentum from the Matildas’ success must be matched with meaningful support at the grassroots level.

That means tackling not only the lack of adequate facilities, but also the rising costs that are making the sport increasingly out of reach for many families.

Without serious investment in both infrastructure and affordability, we risk leaving behind the very girls and women who are meant to be the future of the game.