Western United lay down the foundations in Esports

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Western United & SquadFalse9
Image provided by Western United

A-League Champions Western United are displaying continued growth with a recently formed partnership with SquadFalse9 (SF9).

The partnership between both parties is a collaboration that is online and in-person, which will allow Western United to provide football-related content for SF9 in return will showcase two of its professional EA Sports FIFA players for the 2022-23 season.

SquadFalse9 is known as the largest FIFA esports organisation in the Oceania region, with the team consisting of content creators and FIFA players.

Founded by former A-League player Mitchell Austin, his love of Esports whilst playing as a professional footballer has turned him into a competitive Esports player, where he competed in Season One of the 2019 E-League.

SquadFalse 9 brings digital content into the real world and has shown massive growth in only a few short years of existence with an incredible 900,000 followers across social media platforms. They also reached an astounding 55 million people on a monthly basis.

From the collaboration, a specialised kit was created and will be officially worn by the SF9’s content creators and Western United E-League players. This will have the potential for new partnership opportunities in the future and allows business to flourish with Western United promoting the growth of their own brands.

Western United General Manager of Commercial, Chris Speldewinde said in a statement:

“As a Club, we acknowledged the widespread growth and opportunities in the digital space which we’re yet to capitalise on. Through this partnership with SF9 , we’ve the chance to reach a younger audience and grow Western United brand not only in Australia but globally,” he said.

“As current champions of the E-League, we want to continue being innovative within esports and our digital content, events and digital growth are endless, and we are super excited to see where it takes us.”

Professional footballer and SquadFalse9 founder, Mitchell Austin, added via press release:

“This is a great opportunity for both Western United and SF9to continue to grow their respected brands in the digital space. Esports attracts a younger demographic than traditional sports and is the world’s fastest growing spectator sport right now,” he said.

“We look forward to working with Western United to provide both sets of fans with new and immersive ways to engage with the club.”

Overall, the partnership being formed between both organisations will allow for continued growth and fostering of football in Australia, whilst allowing for FIFA23 fans to attend Western United games and vice-versa. .

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SBS expands Australian Championship broadcast coverage for 2026

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Image Credits: Football Australia

The Australian Championship will enter its second season with an expanded broadcast partnership between Football Australia and SBS. The 2026 competition will feature two live SBS broadcasts in every round, marking an increase from the tournament’s debut season.

Thursday night football will form a key part of the new broadcast schedule. The opening match will see Preston Lions face Wollongong Wolves on October 15th, with the game broadcast live on SBS2 and SBS On Demand. Saturday football will also remain part of the free-to-air schedule; first up, Sutherland Sharks’ clash with South Melbourne on October 17th will be shown live on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The expanded agreement gives the competition a greater presence across SBS’s linear channels while retaining its full streaming coverage, with every match across the 2026 Australian Championship available live on SBS On Demand. The platform also provides full replays and highlights for viewers to access at their discretion.

In addition to SBS’ coverage, Football Australia will also stream the competition via YouTube.

The Australian Championship consists of a six-round group stage, finals beginning at quarter-finals from November 26, and a Grand Final scheduled currently between December 10-12.

It features 16 clubs from seven states and territories. The broadcast schedule places several historic fixtures in front of a national audience: South Melbourne will meet Sydney United 58 in a repeat of the 1999 NSL Grand Final, and Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions will also renew a rivalry that includes NSL Grand Final meetings in 1989 and 1990.

GIS Sydney continues to connect students with Australia’s sports industry

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Image Credits: Global Institute of Sport

Following the launch of its Sydney campus in 2025, the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is continuing to establish itself in the nation’s sports industry. A leading provider of degrees and executive education in sport, GIS provides students the chance to study at two of Australia’s biggest sporting venues: Allianz Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Programs such as Sports Analytics and International Sports Business are delivered in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and feature the chance for students to gain exclusive access to the sports industry.

More than 50 guest speakers have shared their experience with students studying at GIS Sydney, representing organisations like FIFA, Red Bull, Cricket Australia, and the AFL. While learning about the regional and national sports industry in the classroom, students have also had the chance to gain an international perspective through GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits, which have given Sydney students access to iconic sporting venues around the world from London to Miami.

Outside of the iconic venues students can call their classrooms, the organisation prioritises the real, industry placements needed to put theory into practice by providing each student with 140 hours of relevant work experience throughout their studies. Included in this are several sporting organisations who are keen to welcome GIS students on board, including the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), Football Coaches Australia, and Basketball NSW.

GIS also has a partnership with popular network and app Yakka Sport to connect students with paid employment opportunities while they study.

Behind these advancements at the GIS Sydney campus is an Industry Advisory Board which features a host of experienced figures from the world of sport. Included in the Asia-Pacific branch is Chair James Rosengarten, GM of the Melbourne Renegades; Kevin Jang, Managing Director of CAA Stellar Korea; and Brad Lloyd, GM of the Carlton Football Club.

Since launching, GIS’ Sydney campus has ultimately combined its locations and industry connections to provide the next generation of sports professionals with the knowledge, network, and confidence to tackle the rapidly evolving sports industry.

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