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It’s been gaining momentum for months, but a second division in Australia is in its planning stages and could be right around the corner.
This is a move that the game desperately needs, in order to revive interest in the Hyundai A-League and make games mean so much more particularly at the back end of the season.
A refreshed national competition could feature up to 16 teams and be named ‘The Championship.’
The proposed promotion-relegation set up would be the next step of Australian expansion following the two new A-League sides Western United FC and Macarthur FC.
Football Federation Australia have thrown their backing towards the long-awaited move, aimed to include some of the best and historic clubs outside the A-League.
Clubs in the running include former National Soccer League teams South Melbourne, Melbourne Knights, Sydney Olympic, Adelaide City, West Adelaide, Marconi Stallions, Heidelberg United and Brisbane City.
Re-introducing these semi-professional clubs to the main stage would be a huge boost to the overall interest for the top flight and give some incentive for more players to reach the pinnacle of football.
The increased number of spots available will only be a positive to further develop some talent depth.
With several clubs already showing interest, this is something that has the support to thrive.
Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.
With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.
Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport’s trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.
“Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities,” Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.
“We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game.”
The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport’s expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.
Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.
Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.
The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.
Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game’s ecosystem.
The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.
“There’s a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season,” Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.
For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.
The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.
Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.
With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.
The Asian Football Confederation have confirmed the stadiums and dates for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, with the tournament announced to take place between January 7 to February 5, 2027, across eight stadiums in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar.
In Riyadh, five stadiums will host Asia’s best: the King Fahd Sports City Stadium, the King Saud University Stadium, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena and the Al Shabab Stadium.
Jeddah will have the honour of hosting games at two stadiums: the King Abdullah Sports City and the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
While Al Khobar will develop a new state of the art purpose-built facility for the tournament.
Chairperson of the Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup (OCAC) Mariano V. Araneta Jr. outlined the goals of the AFC for the upcoming tournament.
“The record-setting AFC Asian Cup™ in Qatar exceeded all our expectations. In every way, Qatar 2023 has set the benchmark of excellence for all future editions of Asia’s flagship tournament,” he said via press release.
“We are resolute in our commitment to improve Asia’s crown jewel with each passing edition and the foundations are now in place for Saudi Arabia to host a truly exceptional tournament in 2027.
“The focus of global football is now shifting towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we thank the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Local Organising Committee for their remarkable efforts thus far.
“We are confident that they will bring to bear their top-class hosting capabilities and warm hospitality for the benefit of everyone across the Continent and beyond, and we wish them the very best of success.”
President of Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al Misehal conveyed his admiration for the work done to develop the tournament.
“Confirming the dates and selecting the stadiums for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ is a strategic milestone in our journey to host the tournament,” he said in a press release.
“This announcement goes beyond simply identifying locations and schedules; it reflects the ongoing high-level collaboration between us and the AFC as we work towards delivering an exceptional tournament that fulfills the aspirations of the entire Asian continent.”
18 teams have confirmed their place at the tournament already, with the remaining six spots to be determined via the Qualifiers Final Round starting this March.
