We should be celebrating Australia’s football exports

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Image Credit: Socceroos

When Nestory Irankunda, Lucas Herrington and Alessandro Circati all completed high-profile moves, the headlines understandably focused on the massive transfer fees

Record deals, European giants, Australian talent making noise overseas.

But beneath the excitement lies a much bigger story.

For years, Australian football measured success by the players it could retain and attract. Today, success is increasingly being measured by the players it develops and sells.

That shouldn’t be looked at as a weakness of the domestic game.

It’s one of the A-League’s greatest strengths.

Changing landscape

The reality is, Australian clubs will continue to struggle to compete financially with Europe’s elite.

Trying to retain every emerging star was always going to be an impossible task.

Instead, clubs are embracing a model that has proven to be successful in countries across Europe and in leagues like the MLS in the United States.

Develop talented young players, provide them with first-team opportunities and a platform to showcase their talent.

Last year the A-League ranked in the top five for percentage of minutes by players aged 21 or younger across 55 leagues around the world.

These three recent transfers are not an isolated story, they are part of a broader trend.

European clubs are watching Australian football as closely as they ever have. The talent is there.

The World Cup effect

The Socceroos’ performance on the international stage have played a significant role in changing perceptions.

Australia is no longer viewed simply as a physical football nation. Increasingly, Australia is producing technically capable players who can adapt to the demands of Europe’s top leagues.

This exposure has provided players with a stronger opportunity to impress and demonstrate their ability.

The result is a transfer market where Australian players are genuine investments and viewed as integral pieces to a club’s future.

More than transfer fees

The financial benefit of player sales is obvious.

Transfer revenue provides clubs with opportunities to reinvest in academies, facilities, coaching and football operations.

But the impact extends much further.

Every Australian success story abroad raises the profile and trust of the domestic development system.

It encourages and gives European clubs greater confidence to scout Australian football more regularly and more intently.

It creates stronger relationships between local clubs and overseas markets and perhaps most importantly, it gives the next generation a clear pathway to elite football.

The next challenge

Evidently, producing talented players is not Australia’s most pressing challenge

Producing them consistently will be the real measure of how Australian football has progressed.

That requires continued investment in academies, coaching, facilities and national competitions.

Nestory Irankunda’s transfer to Sporting CP will reportedly fetch his junior club Adelaide Croatia Raiders approximately $220,000 under Fifa’s solidarity mechanism.

Fees like this are a reminder of the importance of well-developed pathways and a clear indication of how valuable strong investment in grassroots football can be.

Opportunity, not loss

Whenever another young Australian leaves for Europe, there is often discussion about what the A-League has lost.

Perhaps the better question is what Australian football has gained.

Every major transfer signals growing confidence in the country’s development pathway.

Every overseas success makes it easier for the next player to follow.

While it would be incredible to watch Nestory Irankunda play in the A-League every week, we should feel proud watching him play in the UEFA Champions League this year.

His journey is a reflection of the A-League’s success in giving young Australian footballers the opportunity and platform to reach that level.

Australia is unlikely to ever compete with Europe’s biggest leagues for salaries and prestige.

But it doesn’t need to.

If the game continues investing in youth development and embraces its position as one of the region’s leading producers of football talent, exporting player’s won’t be an indication of decline.

It will be a platform for fans to watch the next generation of world-class Socceroos playing right here on our own shores.

 

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Football Has the Audience. Does It Have the Commercial Strategy?

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Image Credit: One Nil Media

Soccerscene has launched Survey 4: Commercial Confidence in Football, calling on clubs, sponsors, governing bodies, commercial leaders and football industry professionals to assess whether the game is making the most of its enormous commercial potential.

Football has the audience, participation base and community reach to be one of Australia’s most powerful commercial platforms. But does the industry have the commercial strategy, professionalism and infrastructure required to turn that potential into sustainable growth?

That is the question at the centre of Soccerscene’s latest industry research.

The survey examines how attractive grassroots football is to potential commercial partners, what industry professionals believe is limiting football’s commercial potential, and whether clubs are presenting themselves professionally enough to sponsors.

It also explores what sponsors value most when engaging with football – from community reach and participation scale to brand alignment, values and purpose – as well as whether improved facilities could directly contribute to stronger sponsorship outcomes.

Is football fully capitalising on its commercial opportunity?

Football continues to provide brands with access to highly engaged communities across grassroots, community and elite environments. Yet the commercial landscape remains fragmented, with clubs operating with vastly different levels of resources, capability, governance, media infrastructure and commercial expertise.

Soccerscene’s survey is designed to capture the industry’s perspective on where the opportunities exist – and where football may be leaving commercial value on the table.

The research will look specifically at four key areas:

  • Commercial attractiveness – How attractive is grassroots football as a commercial partnership?
  • Commercial barriers – What is holding football back from reaching its full commercial potential?
  • Club professionalism – Are clubs presenting themselves effectively and professionally to sponsors?
  • Sponsor value – What are sponsors really looking for when they invest in football?

The survey also asks whether better facilities would have a direct impact on sponsorship outcomes, highlighting the potential relationship between infrastructure, commercial presentation and investment.

Have your say

Soccerscene is encouraging football clubs, sponsors, commercial professionals, governing bodies, administrators, media professionals and industry stakeholders to participate.

The findings will contribute to Soccerscene’s ongoing program of industry research, designed to provide a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing football and the organisations operating within it.

Take the Survey: Commercial Confidence in Football

Complete the Commercial Confidence in Football Survey here

The survey will close on 30 August 2026 at midnight, with responses received before the deadline included in the final analysis.

Football has the audience. The question is whether it has the commercial strategy to match.

Football Queensland’s Logan hub plan rejected by council

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Image Credits: Football Queensland

Football Queensland’s plans for a major new football hub at Meakin Park have been rejected by Logan City Council. The proposed $76.1 million redevelopment aimed to create a state home for football in Queensland.

Council unanimously rejected Football Queensland’s request for longer-term leases and additional land at the Slacks Creek site. The decision leaves the organisation’s current leases in place. The proposed development would have delivered new playing fields, elite training facilities and a dedicated home for Football Queensland.

Three-stage development

The first stage of Queensland Football’s development carried an $8.5 million price tag. It would upgrade fields, lighting, drainage and irrigation across Meakin and Mappas parks. The goal was to create a six-field, international-standard training venue.

The second stage represented the largest investment. Football Queensland planned to spend $55.3 million on a new headquarters at the adjoining Queens Park site. The facility would include a Women and Girls Academy, sports science facilities, sports medicine and strength and conditioning services.

A third $12.3 million stage would add an indoor futsal academy and two synthetic fields. Football Queensland said the project could create a major football precinct for the region. It also saw the facility playing a role in Queensland’s preparations for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Lease decision creates roadblock

Queensland’s governing body sought a 25-year lease with an option for another 25 years. Chief executive Robert Cavallucci said longer tenure was essential to secure government funding and move the project forward. The organisation has around three years remaining on its existing leases.

Council took a different view. Concerns included community access, funding certainty, future costs and the level of use at the existing facilities. Councillors also questioned whether a long-term arrangement would deliver enough benefit to Logan residents and grassroots clubs. Logan Council has now ordered a review of Football Queensland’s performance under its current lease.

Grassroots football at the centre

The decision highlights a wider issue for football infrastructure. Major facilities can provide elite pathways, sports science and high-performance opportunities, but unless councils can ensure local players and clubs can access the fields, they will be rejected.

Meakin Park already serves several sporting organisations, including football users and community sporting groups. Football Queensland said it had invested almost $2 million at Meakin Park and Mappas fields. It also argued the precinct operates at around 130 per cent capacity. For Queensland football, the challenge now is finding a model that can deliver high-performance facilities while expanding access for the community.

The proposal may have been rejected, but the need for better football infrastructure remains. With participation growing and Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Games approaching, the debate over where and how Queensland builds its next generation of football facilities is unlikely to disappear.

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