Football Australia has today unveiled a landmark post-tournament report on the Legacy ’23 strategy, marking a significant milestone in the journey of Australian football.
Highlighting the social and economic impact of the Matildas, the report also calls for continued investment and support to build on the success and momentum of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and further elevate Australia’s position in the global football arena.
The 2023 Women's World Cup marked a historic milestone by breaking even for the first time, with an economic impact of $1.32 billion in Australia (yes, you read that right). The new report from Football Australia found that the event also played a vital role in promoting physical activity and well-being across the nation - with $324m in decreased healthcare costs.
The need for continued investment
While the report highlights the huge social and economic impact of the tournament, it also calls for sustained investment in the sport.
James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, emphasised the need for sustained momentum: "The FIFA Women’s World Cup was a testament to Australia's capability to host globally significant tournaments. The sporting, economic and societal benefits which the tournament generated, not just to football, but to other sports as well as broader Australian society are now there for all to see in the post-tournament report,” Johnson stated.
“To continue this trajectory, we aim to secure the hosting rights for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, which will require government support at all levels. We believe that this will once again be a huge value-generator for Australia and another boost to the ongoing growth of Australian football and more broadly throughout Asia and the Oceania region.
“These successes have seen a dramatic increase in women’s participation in football which is adding more pressure on the need for government investment, at all levels, to closing the $2.9 billion gap in facility investment across Australia. With over 2,400 clubs at capacity, we continue to work with all levels of government to meet the needs of 1.7 million participants across Australia.
“We are encouraged by the Federal Government’s $200 million Play Our Way grant program, which was inspired by the CommBank Matildas at last years’ FIFA Women’s World Cup to address the growing facilities gap in our community following strong and continued growth in participation,” Johnson says.
Sarah Walsh, Head of Women's Football, World Cup Legacy, and Inclusion at Football Australia reflected on the impact of the CommBank Matildas: "The CommBank Matildas have been at the forefront of transformative societal change, challenging perceptions and gender stereotypes while advocating for sustained evolution within the Australian and international sporting landscape.
“The Legacy ’23 post-tournament report delves into the success achieved in leveraging the tournament, however, emphasises the need for increased funding to ensure that the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 isn’t merely a momentary triumph, but evolves into foundations for a thriving, equitable, and dynamic future for football,” Walsh stated.
Football Australia says that a noteworthy aspect of the success of Legacy ’23, was its broader influence on sport, extending beyond football. While the federal and state government investment of $398 million for Legacy ‘23 and related initiatives has been substantial, $269 million directly benefited football exclusively, with 33% of the funds positively impacting other sports.
Football Australia will continue to work with all levels of government to establish and ongoing programs of investment to address the facilities gap due to the sharp rise in grassroots participation on the back of the successes of the Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas at the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 respectively.
So, what's next?
Wondering what's next for women's sport and Football Australia? Football Australia says it aims to continue fostering and building on partnerships across government levels, with Johnson adding: “As we aim to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and bid for the 2029 FIFA World Club Cup to contribute to the growth of Asian football, we are committed to ensuring that the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ continues to thrive, benefiting not just football but the wider Australian society.”