Wednesday 31 May, marks 50 days until the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Australia & New Zealand™ kick-offs, bringing to Australian shores the most significant sporting event the country has hosted since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
While Australia gears up for the largest-ever FIFA Women's World Cup™, the emphasis for Football Australia lies not only in co-hosting this monumental event as a Host Member Association but transforming the future of women's football through the Legacy '23 plan.
Launched in February 2021, Legacy '23 aims to use this unparalleled opportunity to instigate lasting benefits across the entire ecosystem, and achieve the ambitious target of 50/50 gender participation, a substantial leap from the current 26% nationwide.
Since launching Legacy '23, Football Australia together with the state Member Federations have so far secured funding support from Federal and State Governments totalling $291,420,000 supporting the program's five-pillars of Legacy '23, aimed at delivering a positive impact on participation, community facilities, high performance, tourism & international engagement, and leadership & development.
To mark the occasion of 50 days, Football Australia is today highlighting 50 projects, among many others, which have been brought to life from the Legacy '23 funding secured from Federal and State Governments.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson expresses his satisfaction seeing the Legacy '23 strategy's vision turn into reality, contributing to a more prosperous future for Australian football but notes, there is more to do.
"Legacy '23 has already made substantial strides towards transforming our vision into a reality. With this support, we've been able to enhance stadium facilities, bring to life state-of-the-art infrastructures, champion community club renovations through initiatives such as the Victorian Government's World Game Facility Fund to deliver high-quality, accessible community football infrastructure, and launch dedicated initiatives for women and girls at all levels of the sport such as the Game Changer Club Development Program," Johnson stated.
"While it is rewarding to see these achievements to date, we must continue to work with both Federal and State Governments to highlight a significant challenge across the country with only 40% of football facilities classified as female-friendly, dropping to as low as 24% in New South Wales. This needs to be addressed to meet the expected surge in participation and advance the experience of female players and officials, to improve retention, and foster the benefits that football delivers to its community of over 2 million people.
"With an anticipated 400,000 new women and girls targeted to play football over the next five years, Football Australia and the wider football community are highlighting a genuine need and looking to all governments to deliver the ultimate #EQUALISER for football.
"We are also grateful for the support of the New South Wales, South Australian, Tasmanian, Victorian, and Western Australian Governments for their investment in delivering new or improved elite training facilities and stadia with football at the core of their decision-making. We are urging the other state governments, particularly those with surging player numbers, to invest in the highest participated, and most diverse and inclusive sport in Australia," concluded Johnson.
Snapshot of Legacy '23 funding to date (as of 31 May 2023):
- 21 funding grants received from Federal and State Government (2021 - present)
- 79% of total legacy government funding is attributed to the development of elite and FIFA Women's World Cup 2023TM tournament infrastructure
- 40% of total legacy government funding goes directly towards the development of the Home of the Matildas in Victoria
- 13% of funding is directed to Community Facilities with grassroots Clubs in NSW, TAS and VIC the biggest beneficiaries, and distributed as follows:
- NSW - 20%
- QLD - 7%
- TAS - 34%
- VIC - 37%
- WA - 2%
- From a total of 850+ clubs in NSW, over 70 clubs have benefited directly from the NSW Football Legacy Fund with more grants to be awarded later this year
Legacy '23 support breakdown (as of 31 May 2023)
| Government (Federal / State) |
Total Funding Support |
| Federal Government |
$41,370,000 |
| New South Wales Government |
$10,000,000 |
| Queensland Government |
$2,600,000 |
| South Australian Government |
$54,350,000 |
| Tasmanian Government |
$10,000,000 |
| Victorian Government |
$138,100,000 |
| Western Australian Government |
$35,000,000 |
To get a detailed snapshot of the Legacy '23 funding to date (as of 31 May 2023) and to view the list of 50 projects, among many others that have benefited from Legacy '23 funding, click HERE
