In celebration of the overwhelmingly successful FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, and Australia’s sell out group stage game against Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium last night, Football Australia CEO, James Johnson extends appreciation to the Queensland Government for their $4 million funding commitment towards Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 and the continued advancement of women’s football.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for football in Australia and we welcome the Queensland Government’s $4 million contribution towards a Queensland Women’s Football Legacy Fund, which will be matched dollar for dollar through other funding sources. This investment is inextricably aligned with Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 plan, and it represents an important step towards achieving our vision for the future of football in Queensland.
“It paves the way for us to enhance community facilities and infrastructure, to foster inclusive environments with improved accessibility, and cultivate future talent, specifically for our female athletes. As a result of co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, these funds will help drive the evolution of football, inspire a new generation of participants and supporters, and leave a lasting legacy in Queensland that will continue to thrive and shape our sport long after the tournament’s conclusion,” stated James Johnson.
The Legacy ’23 plan is aimed at delivering economic, social, physical, and mental health benefits, and fostering multicultural inclusion, revolving around five pillars – Participation, Community Facilities, Leadership & Development, Tourism & International Engagement, and High Performance.
Since its inception, Legacy ’23 has unlocked more than $365 million for legacy-related projects. Johnson continued, “The support from the Queensland Government is not merely about hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup. These funds are a steppingstone towards revolutionising women’s football, inspiring a new generation, and creating an everlasting legacy in Queensland.”
From the National Football Facilities Audit (June 2023) we know that 29% of 420 fields in Queensland possess “good” drainage and 49% of 327 changerooms are female friendly. With female participation already up 10% in Queensland, there is considerable room for improvement in the capacity and capability of facilities to help meet the growing demand.
Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci said the investment from the Queensland Government was an important and welcome step forward for the game.
“As our state plays host to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ in one of the most significant periods for football in Australia, we welcome the Queensland Government’s $4 million contribution.
“Every week more and more Queensland women and girls are choosing to play our beautiful game, and Football Queensland is committed to ensuring there is nothing preventing them from participating in football and achieving their dreams to one day play for the Matildas.
“The sheer scale of football means we require enabling infrastructure projects to support the growth and current female participation numbers which are staggering.
“Over the last three years we’ve identified the establishment of infrastructure funds as a key priority as part of our Strategic Infrastructure Plan and are pleased to see the beginning of this with today’s announcement.
“There is still a long way to go, and much work to be done to ensure we can meet the needs of our rapidly growing participant base as the state’s largest participation sport,” stated Robert Cavallucci.
Sarah Walsh, Head of Women’s Football, World Cup Legacy, and Inclusion emphasised the continued commitment to Legacy ’23 and its essential role in transforming the landscape of women’s football.
“The progress report showcases the significant investment in Legacy ’23. However, our journey is ongoing. We will continue working towards creating an environment that supports the growth of women’s football, encouraging increased participation and building a community that is inclusive and nurturing for all football lovers, new, existing, and returning,” Walsh concluded.
To learn more about the Legacy ’23 and view the pre-tournament report CLICK HERE.
