Active World
Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…
read moreA new report from Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has revealed the experience of the Matildas during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The report arrives following the conclusion of a record-breaking A-League Women season and as the Matildas prepare for the football tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.
The PFA report is the most comprehensive public analysis of a Matildas’ international tournament and incorporates direct feedback from Matildas players via a PFA survey. It follows the PFA’s analysis of the Socceroos’ campaign at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
Both reports provide the PFA and the broader Australian football community with insights from the experiences of Australia’s elite players at the pinnacle tournaments of world football, underscoring the crucial role the players play.
The report presents four pivotal recommendations. These recommendations, if implemented, could significantly contribute to the ongoing growth and success of women’s football:
A-League Women Professionalisation
The report’s first recommendation, A-League Women professionalisation, is a crucial step towards ensuring the continued growth of women’s football. This transition to full-time professionalism will not only enable players to maximise their potential but also foster the next generation of Matildas.
Equal World Cup Prize Money
As a result of extensive campaigning by the Matildas and other players, FIFA significantly increased tournament prize money for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, despite the Matildas’ remarkable performance at the tournament, their prize money was only a quarter of that awarded in the 2022 Men’s World Cup. While FIFA has suggested it plans to equalise prize money for the 2026-2027 cycle, it has made this commitment contingent on commercial outcomes. The report urges FIFA to make this commitment unconditional, recognising that investment in women’s football leads to commercial success.
Increased Club Solidarity Fund
The report’s third recommendation, an increased Club Solidarity Fund, is an urgent call to action. The Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund for 2023 was US$11.5 million, just 5.5% of the men’s 2022 fund. To unlock investment opportunities and stimulate women’s football, a substantial increase in the Women’s World Cup Club Solidarity Fund for 2027 is imperative.
Player Input into Scheduling
The 2023 Women’s World Cup highlighted issues related to player workload, with some players facing excessive demands and others lacking sufficient rest. As the women’s football calendar expands, the report emphasises the importance of including players in decision-making processes. Ensuring player welfare and competition integrity will create a sustainable and thriving environment for women’s football.
Commenting on the report, PFA co-Chief Executive, Kathryn Gill advised “the Women’s World Cup was transformational for football in Australia. It attracted unprecedented fan interest, unlocked vital government funding, delivered a significant windfall for Australian football through FIFA prize money and solidarity payments, and confirmed the commercial potential of women’s sport.
“Given the World Cup’s significant sporting and cultural impact, the objective of this report was to deeply understand the players’ experience during the tournament, their development journeys from grassroots to the international stage, and the strategic areas that require attention in the future.
“What emerged from the report is that the gender-equal 2019-2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement gave the players and Football Australia four years of elite, consistent preparation leading into the 2023 tournament, ensuring the high-performance standards were world class.
“While those areas of hard-fought progress have been maintained through the CBA secured in November last year, the players highlighted professionalisation of the A-League Women and better elite development pathways as immediate priorities to ensure the future success of Australian domestic football and, in turn, the sustained international competitiveness of the Matildas.”
Click here to download the report.
Main image: Sam Kerr scores for Australia in the semi-final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Credit: Damian Briggs Photography.
3rd June 2024 - Football Australia reports small deficit during second half of 2023
17th May 2024 - Western Australian Government excited to be a host state for 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup
16th May 2024 - AFC names Australia as host for 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
26th February 2024 - Brisbane’s surprise $100 million economic benefit from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
23rd February 2024 - Football Australia reveals strategic vision to build on FIFA Women’s World Cup legacy
24th November 2023 - Matildas and Socceroos drive Football Australia to 48% increase in revenue
8th November 2023 - Football Australia pay deal sees Matildas get parity with Socceroos
6th November 2023 - Community football grounds in NSW to benefit from FIFA Women’s World Cup legacy
31st October 2023 - Australia’s Nation Brand showcased globally during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
30th October 2023 - Western Australian Government invests in grassroots football and expansion of Sam Kerr Football Centre
17th September 2023 - Eden Park looks back on 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup success
8th September 2023 - Australian Federal Police share experience of all-female security teams at FIFA Women’s World Cup
23rd August 2023 - Victoria University sport experts give FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 an overall A-minus score
18th August 2023 - AFC set to launch Women’s Champions League for 2024/25 season
17th August 2023 - Melbourne’s Federation Square dropped as FIFA Women’s World Cup fan site after security issues
17th August 2023 - Matildas star Sam Kerr calls for more governmental support for football
16th August 2023 - Massive interest in Matildas FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final drives live sites across the nation
16th August 2023 - rebel’s sponsorship of the Matildas aims to celebrate athletes and inspire grassroot participation
13th August 2023 - FIFA Women’s World Cup interest to see new live sites for historic Matildas semi-final
3rd April 2023 - Nike reveals new Matildas Team Kit
6th September 2022 - Cadbury extends its sponsorship of Matildas for a further four years
4th April 2022 - A-Leagues and PFA partner to introduce social media content moderation software
26th September 2019 - PFA drives governance foundation training for professional women players
7th June 2019 - FFA and PFA announce move towards gender equity for W-League and A-League player payments
25th October 2017 - PFA releases inaugural W-League Report
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
Click here to view our subscription options.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…
read morePolin was founded in Istanbul in 1976, and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is one of the world leaders in the design, production, and installation of…
read moreHidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…
read moreAs of 2018, TicketServ operates as SeatGeek Asia Pacific Pty Limited, part of international ticketing platform SeatGeek. Click here to contact SeatGeek Asia Pacific via their entry in…
read moreWith its sleek good looks and easy-to-use yet powerful functionality, Envibe is the premium fitness club software for the Australasian leisure, recreation and fitness industry. We are the most…
read morePico Play is a global leader in the planning, design, development and construction of world-class themed attractions and entertainment that deliver extraordinary and memorable experiences to millions…
read moreContact: Australia: (+61) 1800 849 001 New Zealand: (+64) 3 668 5727 International: (+1) 415 915 0375
read moreDAE Global is one of the world’s leading international creative and production practitioners, creating award-winning sport, culture and entertainment experiences for over 30 years. It was…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!