Coaches applaud new broadcast deal

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) is delighted that Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced the agreement of a revised broadcast deal with Fox Sports.

The Agreement will extend the FFA’s relationship with Fox Sports until at least July 2021.

“On behalf of our Members we congratulate James Johnston, Greg O’Rourke and Fox Sports’ senior management on agreeing to a new broadcast deal to secure the professional game over the next 12 months,” says FCA President Phil Moss.

The deal follows recent confirmation that the 2019-20 A-League season is set to restart in mid-July. This means Fox Sports will televise the remainder of the current season and the next, which is scheduled from December 2020 to July 2021.

“The coaches haven’t gone a day without working exceptionally hard during this past 3 months or so to ensure they and their players remain engaged, committed and ready to resume the 2019-20 Hyundai A-League season in the hope it would continue to be broadcast by Fox Sports,” Moss says.

“We’d also like to acknowledge the communication and collaborative manner in which FFA and the Clubs, led by James & Greg, have engaged with FCA and our coaches during this period and we look forward to a continued strengthening of our relationship moving forward.”

Fox Sports has enjoyed a strong relationship with the FFA since the A-League’s inception in 2004. But concerns around the effects of COVID-19, public gatherings and restart dates for professional sports led to the revision.

“It goes without saying that Fox Sports has been a crucial and dedicated partner over the course of the A-League and it’s exciting to see that continue as we enter a time of great challenge, but even greater opportunity, post-COVID,” Moss adds.

The fixture adjustments will mark the first time since 1989 that Australia’s top domestic division will be played into the winter months.

The FFA agreement with Fox Sports also includes rights to broadcast the W-League and certain international fixtures until July 2021. These include the Socceroos final four World Cup qualifiers in their current group and both Socceroos and Matildas friendlies.

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Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

Community Spirit Shines on AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026

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Image credit: Football Australia

This week, Football Australia (FA) celebrated AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026, championing the people and communities who continue to hold up a safe, inclusive and supportive environment in the football landscape.

‘For all, for life’

In collaboration with Football NSW, Canterbury Football Association and community club, Balmain & District Football Club, the day reflected the very best of what football provides.

The event brought in participants of all ages – from 4-74 years-old – and reached a total of 400 people. Girls-only programs, all-abilities sessions and over-age football ensured all were catered for.

Such a diverse range of participants builds on a wider drive during FIFA World Football Week, which seeks to promote the sport not just as the dazzling lights of 100,000-seater stadiums, but as a way to foster community spirit and social development.

Furthermore, FA support through its Club Changer program was a welcome addition to the action, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to nurture a real love for the game across communities in Australia.

“Through Club Changer we support our clubs to provide a safe, fun and enjoyable environment where everyone is welcome; whether that be as a player, volunteer, referee or supporter,” explained National Program Manager Club Development at FA, Grace Lambourne.

“Everyone should feel they belong and are welcome to play, stay, and love the game.”

 

A welcome celebration

While the upcoming FIFA World Cup will no doubt inspire millions of future Socceroos and Matildas, events like the AFC Grassroots Football Day represent something beyond just inspiration.

It is a platform. An opportunity to express a love for football and to connect with others while doing so.

And connections between the professional and grassroots game is more important than ever if Australia is to nurture the next generation of talent.

This is particularly clear in the rise of women’s football across the nation. Since the FIFA Women’s World Cup, female participation rose by 32%, and registrations for the MiniTillies Program skyrocketed from 264 in 2023, to 1223 in 2024.

The professionals spark passion. But communities turn that passion into playing time.

That is why celebrating grassroots football – and the volunteers and families who sustain it – is a vital part of Australia’s football future. Together, FA and the AFC are creating strong foundations built on positivity, engagement, and inclusivity for all with a love for the beautiful game.

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