Queensland is on the cusp of entering a new era of unprecedented women’s football excellence, with government investment into key strategic infrastructure shaping as the final element in Queensland’s Winning Football Formula.

Football Queensland’s (FQ) Strategic Infrastructure Plan 2020-2024 identifies three infrastructure priorities designed to unlock the immense opportunity of the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“At FQ we believe Women and Girls are the Future which is why our first priority is to establish a Home of Women’s Football in Queensland & Women’s Centre of Excellence as it holds the key to Queensland’s Winning Football Formula and a proud new era for our state,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.

“But we cannot deliver this essential infrastructure piece without strong State Government support for our growing women and girls participation base, which exceeded 18,000 players.

“FQ has the right elements already in place. We have the experience in developing elite players for the Westfield Matildas.

“Our recent research showed 40 talented female Queensland footballers have progressed along the pathway, through the QAS and into Westfield Matildas and Junior Matildas teams at major international tournaments since 2012.

“That number includes established internationals such as Clare Polkinghorne and Hayley Raso, as well as emerging stars like Hollie Palmer and Indiah-Paige Riley.

“We also know the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will bring new participants into football in big numbers, with predictions for more than 150,000 women and girls joining the game across Australia over the next seven years.

“The tournament is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build on that surge and develop a lasting legacy that benefits women and girls in football, the state’s most popular club-based participation sport, and Queensland in general.

“If we can add improved infrastructure into the equation, with new facilities based on FQ’s data-driven and needs-based analysis, then we can look forward with absolute confidence to a new era of women’s football excellence in Queensland.

“That would mean extremely strong Queensland representation at the very top level, with our players making a lasting impact on the international stage beginning with, and going well beyond, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.”

Click here to read FQ’s Strategic Infrastructure Plan 2020-2024 in full.