Football Australia have reported record-breaking growth in participation in grassroots and community football, driven by the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted with New Zealand.
FA have released the 2024 National Participation Report, which confirms football’s position as Australia’s most popular and fastest-growing sport, with more than 1.9 million participants nationwide — an 11% increase compared to 2023.
This compares with football’s growth in New Zealand to become the number one participation sport, with a 6% growth from 2023.
Main photo: Eden Park held the opening ceremony for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a tournament that has stimulated football’s growth in New Zealand and Australia. Photo credit: Eden Park.
Key insights from Australia’s 2024 National Participation Report:
- Total participation: Increased by 11% to 1,911,539 participants.
- Women and girls’ participation grew by 16% to 221,436 participants.
- Registered coaches and volunteers: Increased by 19% and 26%, respectively, reflecting a growing workforce to support the game.
- Outdoor football participation: Up by 10% to 640,170 participants.
- Social football engagement: Increased by 13% to 174,846 participants.
The report also notes the substantial growth in schools and community football programmes, with a 13% increase in participation and a 21% rise in Football Australia’s Sporting Schools programmes, which engaged 158,700 students nationwide.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson … ‘We are determined to harness that momentum.’
James Johnson, chief executive of Football Australia, said: “The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 inspired a generation, and we are determined to harness that momentum to unite and grow football across the country. ”
In December, NZ Football released the results of the 2024 Sport NZ Active NZ Participation Survey.
Key insights included:
- More than 170,000 players are registered to play the game.
- More than 142,000 players took part in New Zealand Football football and futsal programmes — a 6% growth from 2023.
- An estimated 30,000 players took part in secondary school football.
- Girls and women’s participation has grown 27% since 2022, the year before the World Cup.
- Participation from under-represented ethnicities has shown significant growth, with the number of Māori, Pasifika, and Asian players up 14% from 2023.
- The number of community referees has grown 44% in 2024.
READ MORE: Survey reveals more New Zealanders play football than any other team sport >>>>
NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell … ‘The FIFA Women’s World Cup really has had a significant impact.’
New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said: “The growth of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand in the last few years is enormous, but the FIFA Women’s World Cup really has had a significant impact, which is exactly what you want to see as a result of a mega event being hosted here.”
READ MORE: Click here to view the 2024 National Participation Report >>>>
This story was first published on February 5, 2025.