Spain’s Domestic and Global Success: What can Australia Learn?

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Image credit: Destination NSW

Spain has now won back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles following their decisive victory over Germany in the final on Tuesday. Goals from Vicky Lopez and Claudia Pina helped ‘La Roja’ to their third international trophy in three consecutive years, prolonging the team’s dominant status within the women’s game. The achievement not only solidifies Spain’s standing at the top of international football, but displays an essential model for other nations to follow when developing women’s football.

In Australia, as the excitement of hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 builds and the buzz around women’s football is reignited, looking to Spain’s investments could be the first crucial step in ensuring both short and long-term success for women’s football across the country.

International Investment

Just a week before Spain achieved its second consecutive Nations League trophy, multinational renewable energy company, Iberdrola, reaffirmed its dedication to supporting the women’s game both on and off the pitch.

Since 2016, Iberdrola has cemented its position as the main supporter of women’s football in Spain. Its partnership with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has led to member numbers reaching over 100,000, as well as fan attendance and viewership skyrocketing in recent years.

Television viewership has seen similar momentum, increasing by 90%. The final of the most recent European Championship against England reached a 42% audience share and peaked at almost 6.5 million viewers.

The growing number of fans attending live matches was evident at the final on Tuesday evening in Madrid, where the Riyadh Air Metropolitano witnessed a record-breaking crowd of 55,843 fans. Given that the previous record was 32,657, it is clear to see that women’s football in Spain is attracting fans on scales far beyond the numbers currently seen in the A-League Women. According to the ALW Report, the league saw an average attendance of 1,559 last season.

Although the gap may appear impossible to overcome, it shows that women’s football is more than capable of attracting crowds large enough to rival the men’s game when backed by meaningul investment.

Domestic Developments 

It is not only the national team which has seen the benefits of continued investment into women’s football over the last decade. Clubs like Barcelona have seen their women’s team achieve huge success both in La Liga and in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, winning two of the last three competitions.

However, one of the crowning achievements of the last decade for women’s football in Spain was a world record set at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in 2022, where 91,648 fans were present for a UEFA Women’s Champions League match against Wolfsburg.

Although there are few clubs on the planet with both the infrastructure and football culture to match Barcelona, it nevertheless, shows that when resources and attention are directed towards the women’s game, it can encourage success on the pitch alongside a strong community of dedicated fans off it.

The Women’s Game in Australia – Time for Change?  

Last month’s A-League Women Report, released by the PFA, underlined a desperate need for investment if the ALW is to keep pace with foreign leagues.

The report highlighted that the increasing talent drain, falling attendances and financial insecurity for players are some of the main issues negatively impacting the growth of the ALW. Following the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, attendances dropped by 26%, showing a failure to capitalise on the buzz surrounding the tournament jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Furthermore, with player dissatisfaction increasing and calls to professionalise the women’s game growing louder, the need for change is becoming more and more desperate. If Australia is to ensure the sustained success of women’s football on both the international and national stage, then looking at the work of the RFEF in Spain could be a valuable first step.

How do we Move Forward?

In the last decade, Spain has shown that consistent investment into the women’s game can bring huge success both domestically and globally. Therefore, by following this example, governing bodies can see how long-term commitment and meaningful investments could improve the structure of Australia’s domestic leagues and ultimately raise the profile of Australian women’s football on the global stage.

While women’s football in Australia has reached a decisive moment, recent developments still indicate reasons to remain optimistic. CommBank’s renewed support for the Matildas ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ due to be held in Australia in March 2026 displays their intention to continue backing the development of the women’s game.

Ensuring this support is acknowledged and then followed through after the tournament has heard the final whistle will be crucial.

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AC Milan and Puma Unveil New 2026/27 Away Kit

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Image Credit: AC Milan S.p.A.
AC Milan and Puma have officially unveiled the clubs the new 2026/27 away kit, a timeless white kit that celebrates resilience, heritage and the winning mentality that has defined the Rossoneri for generations.

Inspired by the phrase “after Istanbul, there is always Athens” the kit pays tribute to AC Milan’s triumph in the 2007 Champions League Final in Athens following their defeat in Istanbul in 2005. The message printed on the back of the collar, reflects the club’s enduring spirit and serves as a reminder that every setback can become the foundation for future success.

Leading the campaign is club legend Filipo Inzaghi who scored two goals to lead AC Milan in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, embodying the determination, resilience and hunger that continues to define AC Milan’s identity.

Every detail on this years away kit reinforces this story. Gold accents and a laurel wrapped club crest celebrates a storied history of success, while the authentic version features the Greek inscription “Δύναμη Ψυχής” (“Strength of Spirit”) inside the collar. A subtle phoenix wing woven into the fabric symbolises renewal, resilience and the Club’s commitment to continually rising to new challenges.

The authentic jersey is engineered with PUMA’s advanced ULTRAWEAVE fabric, complemented by dryCELL and ThermoAdapt technologies to deliver lightweight feel and optimal performance. The replica version brings the same identity combining the same striking design with everyday wearability and is made with RE technology, incorporating 95% recycled polyester sourced from textile waste.

The new AC Milan 2026/27 Away Kit is available now through AC Milan Official Stores, the Club’s online store, PUMA and selected retailers worldwide.

Northern NSW Football Launches Female Referee Mentor Program to Strengthen Officiating Pathway

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Image Credit: Football NNSW

Northern NSW Football has launched a Female Referee Mentor Program, backed by NSW Office of Sport funding, as the federation moves to address one of the game’s most persistent development gaps: retaining and advancing women in officiating.

The program pairs emerging referees with experienced female officials and coaches, and has already been introduced in match conditions during the 2026 Northern NSW Women’s State Cup under the oversight of NNSWF high-performance referee coach and FIFA referee Casey Reibelt.

Northern NSW says the initiative is designed to improve progression into representative appointments and leadership roles while building the support networks often cited as critical to referee retention.

Tournament rollout offers first test of model

NNSWF said 25 female referees officiated during the Women’s State Cup as part of the program’s initial phase.

The federation also released a number of key appointments linked to the rollout. Sophie Whale and Jamie Mills-Cove were appointed assistant referees for the Community Plate final. Lilli Skaines and Kaitlyn Digby were appointed to the under-13 and under-15 Premier Youth League Girls Cup finals, with Indi Charlesworth named assistant referee for both fixtures.

Reibelt said the initiative was intended to support younger and less-experienced referees in a practical environment and to reduce the sense of isolation that can come with early officiating experience. NNSWF general manager participation and women’s football Allana Neeve said the federation viewed refereeing as a critical part of women’s football and described the funded program as a pathway investment aimed at long-term sustainability.

From participation goal to workforce strategy

Over the past years, women’s player participation has boomed, but officiating pathways have not always expanded at the same pace, particularly in regional systems where access to experienced coaching and consistent appointments can be uneven.

That has consequences beyond referee numbers. Match officials are a core workforce input for competition quality, scheduling and player development. If attrition is high in early officiating years, federations are forced into constant replacement cycles rather than building depth.

In that context, mentor programs are increasingly treated as operational infrastructure, not supplementary participation projects. What matters is not only recruitment, but conversion: whether referees remain in the system long enough to progress into advanced appointments and eventually into coaching and leadership roles.

Northern NSW’s decision to embed mentoring in live competition rather than classroom-only delivery is a practical strength. Development feedback linked to real matches is generally more actionable for emerging referees than abstract technical sessions.

The next phase, however, will determine whether the program produces structural change. Initiatives launched around major events often generate strong short-term engagement but weaken across regular-season demands, especially where travel, study and work pressures are high.

Over time, the federation will need to show progress in second- and third-season retention, advancement into higher-grade appointments, and sustained mentor participation beyond flagship tournaments. Consistency across metropolitan and regional cohorts will also be central to any claim of pathway equity.

Public funding raises reporting expectations

Office of Sport support gives the program early stability, but it also raises the bar on transparency. Publicly supported pathway programs are typically expected to report outcomes, not just participation stories.

For this initiative, that means publishing practical indicators: cohort continuity, appointment progression and evidence that mentoring remains active throughout the season cycle. Without that reporting architecture, it is difficult to distinguish between a successful event and a durable reform.

For now, Northern NSW has delivered a credible first step: a defined mentor structure, named participants and immediate implementation inside a representative competition. The next challenge is to convert that start into a repeatable officiating pipeline.

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