FIFA Women’s World Cup ventures to Australia’s capital

Staff Writer
FIFA Women's World Cup trophy
Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images for Football Australia

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was a special recent guest at Australian Parliament House, as the FIFA Women’s World Cup was presented in Canberra.

Joining him was Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with Football Australia Chair and CEO Chris Nikou and James Johnson respectively.

A meeting was held to discuss the hugely successful World Cup far, which has attracted record-breaking attendances and broadcast viewership. Already, over 1.8 million ticket sales have been made across Australia and New Zealand, an amazing result for tournament.

The meeting was followed by a trophy lift, as Infantino spoke to the attendees about his gratitude for the overwhelming fan support.

“Football is so important for society, for inclusion, for the community, for economic growth, for physical health, for mental health and for happiness,” the FIFA President said via a statement.

“It is important for children because through football and playing football, they learn. They learn how to play as a team, how to count on the team-mates, how to win, but also how to lose.

“And, most importantly, how to get up after defeat and go for the next game that we want to win, which is what happened to the Matildas. After defeat they all endured, and the whole country concentrated on the next game because you wanted to win that next game.”

“This tournament is a great event, and you are all really fantastic – a proud country, a country with a rich, rich history, a country which has put up the best FIFA Women’s World Cup ever.

“Thank you for having us here, for everything you do for football, for your children, for your girls, for your boys, in this beautiful country. And, thank you for uniting the entire world here in Australia and in New Zealand.”

The FIFA World Cup Trophy made its next stop to the University of Canberra, allowing the chance to get a photo with the famous silverware.

Football Australia Chair Chris Nikou outlined the role Football Australia has and the impact he wants the Women’s World Cup to have.

“As Chair of Football Australia, I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved so far. This historic edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup has been a testament to our dedication, teamwork, and passion for football,’ he said via media release.

“We’ve not only hosted an unprecedented global event but have demonstrated the powerful role football plays in shaping our society, especially in terms of gender equality and diversity. I strongly believe that the legacy of this tournament will continue to inspire and shape the future of football in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.”

Football Australia CEO James Johnson echoed Nikou’s thoughts with how the Women’s World Cup will have a positive influence.

“This FIFA Women’s World Cup has proven that we can turn dreams into reality,” Johnson stated, highlighting the record-breaking 1.8 million tickets sales to date, a significant leap from the 1.1 million tickets sold in Paris in 2019.

“Envision the social and health benefits that would flow with 400,000 more women and girls playing the game. This is the aspiration driving our Legacy ’23 initiative, and with record viewership and national broadcast reach for our CommBank Matildas’ victories, it’s clear we’re on the right path.

“Monday night’s CommBank Matildas’ victory over Canada, was the most watched program on the Seven network in 2023 with a national broadcast reach of 4.71 million.

“We are witnessing a landmark moment in the history of football not just for Australia and New Zealand but for the world at large. This tournament has proven the game’s far-reaching appeal, underpinned by its power to unite people across age groups and backgrounds.

“Our journey is only beginning. We are committed to creating an environment that bolsters the growth of women’s football, fosters inclusivity, and nurtures an enduring passion for the game.”

The Matildas continue their FIFA Women’s World Cup tonight (August 7) against Denmark at Stadium Australia, in the Round of 16.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Football NSW supports Female Coaches CPD as Women’s Football Surges

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Image Credit: Shutterstock

Football NSW has used the platform of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to deliver a targeted professional development workshop for female coaches, bringing together scholarship recipients for an evening of structured learning and direct engagement with elite women’s football.

Held at ACPE last month, the session was open to female coaches who received C or B Diploma scholarships through Football NSW in 2025. Coaching accreditation carries a financial cost that disproportionately affects women, who are less likely to have their development subsidised by clubs or associations operating in underfunded community football environments. Scholarship access changes that equation at the point where many women exit the pathway.

Facilitated by Football NSW Coach Development Coordinator Bronwyn Kiceec, the workshop focused on goal scoring trends from the tournament’s group stage, with coaches analysing attacking patterns and exploring how those insights could translate into their own environments. The group then attended the quarter-final between South Korea and Uzbekistan at Stadium Australia.

The structure of the evening mattered as much as its content. Female coaches in community football rarely have access to elite competition environments as a professional resource. The gap between the level at which most women coach and the level at which the game is analysed and discussed tends to reinforce itself. Placing scholarship recipients inside a major tournament, as participants rather than spectators, closes that gap in a way that a classroom session cannot.

Female coaches remain significantly underrepresented across all levels of the game in Australia. The pipeline that will change that depends not only on accreditation access but on the professional networks, peer relationships and exposure to elite environments that male coaches have historically taken for granted.

The workshop forms part of Football NSW’s ongoing commitment to developing female coaches through scholarships and structured learning opportunities.

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