Welcome to all participating players and families joining us for the first FQ Academy State Carnival of 2024.  

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

Football Australia has announced that the NYC age groups for 2024 are Under 15 (2009 born) and Under 16 (2008 born) for both girls and boys. Football Queensland is allowed to field two teams per age group at the NYC Girls event to be held between the 3rd and the 8th of July in Melbourne (Victoria) at the Home of the Matildas facility. FQ will take three boys squads in each age group to the NYC Boys tournament which will take place at Woollongong (NSW) between the 16th and 21st of July 2024. 

In preparation for future national events, Football Queensland also identifies players for U14 State Teams in 2024. After a great experience at the first State of Origin Cup in Melbourne in 2023, we will host the event this year on the Sunshine Coast. FQ plans to field three boys and two girls state teams in the U14 age group between the 27th and 29th of September at Maroochydore FC, with other Member Federation state teams and a number of overseas clubs already confirming their participation at the 2024 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.