This year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 was not just another tournament. It was a momentum shift for women’s football …
CEO OPINION
10:1 Against the World Game: Hume City Council’s Budget Is a Kick in the Guts for Football
A 10:1 funding ratio against the world game. Football participation is booming, but Hume City Council’s budget tells a very different story — one that ratepayers can’t ignore.
Grassroots Clubs Want to Grow – But They Need the Tools to Do It
Across Australia, grassroots football clubs are doing extraordinary work to keep the game alive in their communities. Volunteers line fields, …
Soccerscene Launches ‘Unfiltered’ Podcast with Bill Papastergiadis
Soccerscene is kicking off a bold new chapter in football storytelling with the launch of its brand-new podcast, Unfiltered. The …
CEO OPINION
$28 Million for Box Hill City Oval, While Football Is Being Pushed to the Back Seat
Box Hill City Oval isn’t just a local redevelopment – it’s a litmus test for how seriously we take football infrastructure in Australia. And right now, the warning signs are flashing.
CEO OPINION
The Participation Boom Councils Didn’t Plan For Is Hitting Football Hard
Football is global. Councils are still thinking domestic. While Japan and South Korea treat football as a national asset, Australian clubs are being told to “make do” with facilities stuck in the past. If councils don’t change how they plan and invest, Australia won’t just fall behind locally, we’ll fall behind globally.
Editors Opinion
Football’s Growth Is Outpacing Council Planning and Clubs Are Paying the Price
Club confidence in councils is collapsing as football participation surges. In a Soccerscene-exclusive survey conducted between 19 and 30 January 2026 and distributed through our 31,000-strong industry database, grassroots and semi-professional leaders warned that planning, consultation and funding are failing to keep pace. The result is overcrowded facilities, volunteer burnout, and a growing risk Australia falls further behind structured football nations like Japan and South Korea.
Attendance and Atmosphere: Maximising the A-League’s potential
While many A-League clubs boast some of the most impressive sporting venues in Australia, maximising their potential and drawing in …
CEO OPINION
The A-League’s Mover and Shaker: Can Steve Rosich Kickstart Football’s Next Chapter?
If we are honest with ourselves, the A-Leagues are not short of passion. They are short of penetration. Football has the numbers, the multicultural breadth, the participation base and the long-term demographic wind behind it. What it has lacked is commercial conviction.
Paramount and Channel 10’s Football Gamble Pays Off with Record Viewership
Football viewership on Paramount Viewership is on the rise, and football is the winner
A National Stage Built on Local Sacrifice
There is no question that the Championship felt special, because for the first time in a long time semi-professional football felt properly connected to the national game, and you could see that in the way players approached it, in the way supporters travelled, and in the way club volunteers kept showing up even when they were clearly running on fumes, because it finally felt like the work they do every week mattered on a bigger stage.
CEO OPINION
Meaningful Sponsorship: A Smarter Way to Drive Down Football Club Costs
From weekend volunteers to local families, football thrives because of the people who dedicate their time energy and passion to the game. Yet I also see the rising pressures on clubs and families. Increasing registration fees facility costs and operational expenses threaten the very accessibility that makes our sport special.
CEO OPINION
Inside the Convention That Could Reshape Football Across Australia
The 2025 Football Queensland Convention was more than just a gathering. It was a statement about what football in Australia …
Why La Liga and Serie A’s Overseas Ambitions Miss the Mark
There’s something special about a home game. The walk to the ground, the echo of chants through narrow streets, and …
FIFA World Cup 26 Mascots and Why FIFA’s New Videogame Title Is Interesting
The FIFA World Cup mascot is made to represent the country hosting the game, its culture, and, more importantly, the game of football and FIFA. As ambassadors of the game, carefully designed by a team of experts, they are made to advertise football as a family-friendly event, especially to appeal to children in hopes of future generations of supporters.
Why Building Relationships Is Football’s Most Underrated Strategy
Football’s biggest wins don’t always happen on the pitch. Often, they start in boardrooms, local clubs, and community halls, anywhere …
Is the 3pm Blackout the Way Forward For English Football?
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the long-standing 3pm Saturday blackout, despite growing pressure …
Back Where It Belongs: SBS Revives Football’s Free-to-Air Spirit
SBS’s deal with the Australian Championship a welcome return to Australian football’s next chapter
The Fast Rise of Futsal: Why Melbourne’s Next Big Sports Investment Lies Indoors
Across Australia, participation in futsal has grown exponentially, with participation increasing approximately 11% from 2022-2023, which puts futsal in the same group as Australia’s fastest-growing organised activities.
Victorian Football’s Revival: How Disruption Is Reawakening the Game’s Heart
Victorian football disruption is changing the landscape of the game. Crowds are growing, clubs are modernising, and communities are reconnecting …
Australia Cup Final Viewership Proves Football’s Popularity
This includes pundits and football fans speculating what this year’s tournament has in store for the game and where it is heading in the future. But one thing is for certain: football is gaining a significant number of TV viewers compared to last year. Statistics from Australia’s leading TV blog, TV Tonight, record 506,000 total viewers of the Australian Cup final, dwarfing the 53,000 from last year’s broadcast.
What’s Fuelling the Resurgence in Football Esports?
The FIFAe World Cup 2025 ft. eFootball begins its console and mobile qualifiers on the 18th of September this year, leading up to the main soccer Esports events in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this December, with an unannounced prise pool at the time of writing.
Australia’s sleeping giant: the commercial reality of the A-League
The A-League has immense commercial potential, just waiting to be realised. As Australia’s premier football competition, it has access to …
1.14 million reasons football belongs on Free-to-Air TV
Last Saturday night’s 1.14 million reach for Tottenham’s 2–0 win over Manchester City on Nine’s free-to-air broadcast was more than …
US investment could strip European football of traditional values
As of the 2025/26 season, 10 of the 20 Premier League clubs, 9 of the 20 Serie A clubs, and a quarter of Ligue 1 clubs are majority US-owned.
Beyond the Hype: Challenges for Women’s Football
The Matildas Inspired a Nation — But Is Grassroots Football on the Brink?
NSW synthetic fields guideline: securing the future of sport
NSW government release development guidelines to Synthetic fields: Is it enough?
Why government backing is crucial for Australia’s game
Football Is Booming — But Without Government Help, It Could All Fall Apart
Can the A-League Women keep the Matildas’ flame alive?
The Matildas lit up the nation in 2023 — but has the A-League Women been left behind? With low crowds and players retiring early, it’s time to ask what’s really being done to grow the women’s game.
Why Australia won’t host a men’s World Cup soon
The Brutal Truth: Australia Won’t Be Hosting a Men’s World Cup Anytime Soon
Next CEO of Football Australia steps into the hot seat
Whoever becomes the next Football Australia CEO will face big challenges.
A-League Transfer Revenue Soars as Youth Development Takes Centre Stage
Youth development key in A-League Transfer Revenue increase.
Melbourne should have been apart of Women’s Asia Cup 2026
The AFC will ratify Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast as hosts of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Here’s why Melbourne’s exclusion is a travesty!
Unite Round: A-League’s Bold Vision Faces Challenges
Exploring the highs and lows of A-League’s Unite Round, a bold experiment striving to unite fans but facing challenges.
A-League should heed Dynamic Ticketing issues
Dynamic Ticketing is seen as a new revenue builder by struggling clubs in Europe needing to inject more funds into …
Saudi Pro League’s TikTok deal: A media blueprint for Australia
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has confirmed a new partnership with TikTok for the 2024/25 season, designating the short video …
EURO 2024 Success: Lessons for Australia for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
A comprehensive study by Nielsen Sports, the world leader in sports data measurement and fan insights, revealed that UEFA EURO …
Unpacking the Biological Maturation Process for Football NSW
Football NSW’s new Biological Maturation Process for the 2025 season outlines a framework that allows players who “Are potentially disadvantaged …
Football Queensland presents 2024-2026 Infrastructure Strategy
Football Queensland has released its new 2024-2026 infrastructure strategy outlining centrally that collaboration with the government will be necessary for …
FIFPRO Asia/Oceania report on women’s Asian club experience
FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has published a report evaluating players’ experiences in the 2023/24 AFC Women’s Club Championship (AWCC). The report, “Lessons …
NWSL’s groundbreaking CBA highlights ALW’s growing gap
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has confirmed a major update to its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with players, effective …
Western Australian Institute of Sport to earn $20.8m funding boost
The Cook Government is set to inject a $20.8 million funding boost over four years to enhance the operations and …
Bringing attention to FIFPRO’s Drake Football Study project
Initiated in 2019, the Drake Football Study is a decade-long research project dedicated to monitoring the physical and mental well-being …
APIA Leichhardt President Tony Raciti calls for calm as National Second Tier speculation emerges
APIA Leichhardt President Tony Raciti has weighed in on recent developments about the National Second Tier (NST), following uncertainty about …
A-Leagues Unite Round returns for a second season
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have confirmed the return of Unite Round to the A-Leagues for the 2024/25 season with …
Uncertainty looms around National Second Tier’s future
The highly anticipated National Second Tier (NST) in its proposed format is set to be postponed by Football Australia, with …
America must fix issues before co-hosting 2026 World Cup
Copa America 2024 has kicked off the knockout stages with plenty of goals and drama on the pitch, but that …
Joe Montemurro’s move to Lyon showcases elite coaching talent from Australia
Joe Montemurro has become the first non-French coach to take over Olympique Lyon Women’s team in their 20-year history after …
How the Liberty A-League can learn from the incredible growth of NWSL
As the A-League Women’s Grand Final approaches and season comes to an end, it is a time to reflect on …
777 Partners seeking completion of Everton deal
American firm 777 Partners are nearing the completion of their takeover at Everton after a long seven-month process is heading …
Government facilities investment needs to keep up as Women’s Asian Cup looms
In recent times, Football Australia released their ‘Legacy 23 report’ on the Women’s World Cup which was held in Australia …
How the NPL can learn off the USL’s content deal with Footballco
The United Soccer League (USL) has launched a strategic content partnership with Footballco, a football media company, being designated as …
FA Wales takes action with Facility & Investment Vision
The Football Association of Wales (FAW), in collaboration with the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF), released the Facility and Investment Vision …
Regional stakeholders deliver their feedback in Football Victoria’s Regional Review
Football Victoria (FV) released their Regional Football Review, aimed at giving regional football stakeholders the platform to voice their feedback …
Perth looking to pave new Glory through fresh ownership
The ownership of long-standing A-League team Perth Glory has changed hands, with property mogul Ross Pelligra taking the reins. The …
Scraping through: What the APL can improve ahead of the next Unite Round
The first iteration of Unite Round has not gone by without criticism, but the product itself may well have saved …
Ange Postecoglou’s journey has laid a path for future Australian coaches to succeed in Europe
At Football Victoria’s Community in Business Full Time Luncheon event, special guests discussed Ange Postecoglou’s brilliant start at Tottenham Hotspur …
National Women’s Soccer League score big with record-breaking domestic TV rights deal
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) have secured a four-year, $240 million USD ($324 million AUD) domestic broadcast deal with …
Everton agree to 777 Partners takeover amidst seasons of turmoil
Everton have agreed on a deal with 777 Partners, as the U.S. private equity firm is looking to taking over …
Kimon Taliadoros resigns – experienced CEO now needed for Football Victoria
Last week, Kimon Taliadoros resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Football Victoria. He also served as …
$200 million announced for women’s sport: All the credit but not full reward
Following the record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup played in Australia, the Federal Government has announced $200 million to women’s sport …
Why one state premier’s mindset must be replicated across the board
On Tuesday, before the Matildas took part in the heartbreaking loss to England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, …
Will the Matildas change the perception of Australian football forever?
The Matildas’ date with destiny is fast approaching. They play England on Wednesday, in a semi-final match up of a …
Dr Shona Bass delivers powerful speech outlining the growth of women’s football in Australia
In the recent Football Victoria Community in Business (FVCIB) Half-Time Luncheon, Football Victoria Hall of Famer and Matilda cap #2 …
Uncovering the landscape of youth football in Western Australia
The recent inclusion of seven Perth Glory NPL players in the extended 28-player Joey squad for the upcoming AFC U-17 …
Preston Lions ambition matched with National Second Tier interest
Preston Lions have provided an update to their National Second Tier progress, following on from their expression of interest. In …
Brisbane Roar’s stagnation has dragged on for too long
Australian football experienced a shock to the system on Tuesday evening when A-Leagues side Brisbane Roar announced the abrupt dismissal …
The A-Leagues must make up for lost time in season 2022-23
This upcoming A-Leagues season is without a doubt the most significant in its 18-year history. It’s been said countless times …
Con Boutsianis: “The nation is not going to get better by just playing more games”
South Melbourne icon Con Boutsianis is steadfast in his view that issues in Australian football’s much-debated talent pathways are rooted …
What does record Asian qualification for Qatar 2022 mean for the region?
For the first time in World Cup history, a tournament will play host to a record six teams from the …
Football Australia’s #EQUALISER campaign is already bearing fruit ahead of Women’s World Cup
July 20 next year will mark the opening match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Auckland’s Eden Park. …
Ange Koutos calls for removal of FV Emerging from women’s NPL
The Victorian women’s National Premier League season will breathe a rejuvenated sigh of relief when it kicks off in early …
FCA Ambassador Ernie Merrick on being a football coach
As often stated, there are only two types of coaches in football – “those that are sacked or those about …
New A-Leagues, work still to be done
Australia’s top-flight A-Leagues is back and whilst much has changed it is clear that there is still a lot of work ahead.
Is the A-League prepared for sportswashing?
This month, Newcastle United became the richest club in world football – due solely to majority ownership by the Saudi Arabian Foreign Wealth Fund. With Premier League clubs being used to rehabilitate reputations for foreign entities, could the same happen in the A-League?
A-League supporter numbers grow – but 2 million football fans still unattached
Despite attendances dropping in A-League matches over the past few years, supporter numbers across the board have grown in the …
Paramount Plus must pounce on EPL rights in Australia
ViacomCBS have begun broadcasting Australian football content in the past several weeks across the 10 Network and its free streaming …
K-League’s beneficial partnership with La Liga: A blueprint for the A-League?
Late last year, the Korean K-League and Spain’s La Liga signed an MOU to advance the collaboration and communication between …
FIFA’s mission to expand the World Cup will only damage it
With 166 member nations of FIFA voting to explore the concept of a two-year cycle for the World Cup, questions need to be asked whether too much of a good thing will destroy what makes the competition special.
Bundesliga looks to become the first sustainable league in the world – will Australia follow?
The German Football League (DFL), the body which governs the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, recently outlined their ambitions to become …
What will a National Second Tier mean for the NPL?
As the concept of a National Second Tier becomes a reality in Australia, there are questions on what the removal of the biggest clubs will mean for the State League competitions.
Is the time finally right for Australia to host the FIFA World Cup?
In a story that caught the eyes of the Australian football community last week, sport and government officials are said …
Channel 10 and Paramount+ have hit the ground running
Channel 10 and Paramount have hit the ground running by promoting the A-League to both casual fans and bolted-on supporters, …
Matildas did the nation proud but this may just be the beginning
The Matildas ended their Olympic campaign in fourth place last night, after losing 4-3 to the USA in the Bronze …
Futsal deserves to be in the Olympics
Few sports currently excluded from the Summer Olympics are as ready – or deserving – as futsal. The addition of …
Will Melbourne City eventually move all of their games to the south east?
Melbourne City were the benchmark in the A-League last season, lifting the Premiers Plate in May and eventually the Championship …
Why A-League teams need purpose-built stadiums
The aim for every football club within Australia should be to play on a ground that is both made for …
Has football become too expensive to stream in Australia?
As the European Championships come to an end this Monday morning (AEST), with the English playing the Italians, club football …
Who will be the next Melbourne Victory CEO?
When Trent Jacobs announced in May that he would be stepping down as Melbourne Victory Chief Executive Officer (CEO), he …
Optus Sport is the right platform to show 2023 Women’s World Cup
Late last week, Optus Sport announced that they had secured the Australian broadcasting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World …
How Melbourne Victory can restore their brand
Melbourne Victory fell to their 14th loss of the season on Sunday in Perth, losing to the Glory 2-1. It’s a …
Football Australia CEO defends against Hadley’s Multicultural remarks
Ray Hadley’s stoush with CEO of Football Australia James Johnson represents the ongoing media bias against football that is present …
Never assume ethnicity is the problem, without addressing the behaviour
The association between a violent brawl at a National Premier League (NPL) game and Football Australia (FA) rescinding the ban …
Australian football hits the broadcast market: Where will the rights land?
Crunch time is fast approaching for Football Australia and the APL, with new broadcast deals set to be struck independently …
A new year brings optimism for Australian football
As always in Australian football, 2021 is set to be a big year. After a year which was continually disrupted …
Does the A-League need a Big Bash style experiment?
The fans roar as the fireworks explode – with music blasting a Mexican wave engulfs the stadium. Cricket Australia’s Big …
The FFA Cup should be renamed the Australia Cup in a nod to the game’s history
This past Wednesday, Football Federation Australia held its seventeenth Annual General Meeting. One of the agenda items included a proposal …
Fixing Australia’s youth development starts with revamping the Y-League
A lack of consistent talent-production has cast the spotlight over Australia’s youth pathways in recent years, a topic that has …
Why an Australian football Netflix series is needed
Netflix boast just under 200 million subscribers worldwide and have released several sports documentaries over the last few years. However, …
Australian football needs to further explore the potential of Twitch
Twitch continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms to live stream content and Australian football should build their …
Time for Australian clubs to step up their TikTok game
Video-sharing service TikTok is a global phenomenon and it’s time Australian football clubs further embraced the platform, to continue to …
FFA makes clever choice with Gustavsson appointment
Football Federation Australia announced the appointment of Tony Gustavsson on Tuesday night, as head coach of the Matildas for the …
Equal pay in football is one thing, but fair prize money is much harder to achieve
After the stunning success of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, continued calls for equal pay rang loudly across …
How a national second division could use mobile-only ticketing
While mobile ticketing has been around for over a decade, its presence is only increasing with some sporting events starting …
Why digital transformation is vital for Australian football
Australian football should embrace digital transformation in order for it to succeed and grow into the future. A simple definition …
Support grows for National Second Division ahead of AAFC meeting
The Australian Association of Football Clubs (AAFC) will take the next step towards its plans to have a national second …
Will Australia ever see the FFA Cup again?
A total of 765 football clubs had registered to compete in the 2020 FFA Cup, yet a recent decision to …
A-League’s bungled restart highlights difficulties in changing Australian football’s narrative
The FFA last week released a discussion paper titled ‘XI Principles for the future of Australian Football’. In a move …
Is the A-League’s return to winter another unnecessary tinkering of Australian football?
Just over 30 years ago, a decision was made to shift the top tier of Australian domestic football from winter …
New South Wales NPL clubs share Victorian counterparts’ fears of recommencement
Despite the existence of a desperate desire to see training resume for footballers across New South Wales, such a move …