Welcome to all participating players and families joining us for the first FQ Academy State Carnival of 2025.  

This event has a greater significance than in previous years as the National Youth Championships (NYC), now known as the Emerging Socceroos Championships and Emerging Matildas Championships, have been brought forward within the football calendar to July to allow national team coaches to attend before the next team selection cycle for our Junior Matildas and Joeys.

Football Australia has announced that the age groups for these national tournaments in 2025 are Under 15 (2010 born) and Under 16 (2009 born) for both girls and boys. Football Queensland is allowed to field two teams per age group at the Emerging Matildas Championships event to be held between the 15th and the 20th of July in Glenwood (Sydney) at Valentine Sports Park. FQ will take three boys squads in each age group to the Emerging Socceroos Championships which will take place in Melbourne (Victoria) at the Home of the Matildas between the 6th and 11th of July 2025.

In preparation for future national events, Football Queensland also identifies players for U14 State Teams in 2025. After a great experience at the second State of Origin Cup in Sunshine Coast in 2024, we will host the event again this year on the Sunshine Coast. FQ plans to field three boys teams in the U14 age group and two girls state teams in the U14/17 age group between the 3rd and 5th of October at Maroochydore FC, with other Member Federation state teams and a number of overseas clubs already confirming their participation in the 2025 edition of the State of Origin Cup.

The first step to the world stage for Queensland players is our FQ Academy. First impressions are made at our regional training sessions and carnivals, while the FQ Academy State Carnivals are pivotal in recognising our best players’ potential. In addition to this, Member Federations organise Talent Development Scheme games where the state’s finest talents, on an invitational basis, can compete in front of visiting national team coaches. 

The FQ Academy State Carnival being held this week, in partnership with Moreton Bay Regional Council, presents a valuable opportunity to connect metro and regional talent as we welcome junior boys and girls from across the state to play against their peers.  

I’d like to wish our participants all the best for this week’s carnival and I look forward to watching the best Queensland-based athletes from our sport as they work hard to make a difference on and off the field.