Football Australia today unveiled the 2024 National Participation Report, highlighting record-breaking growth in participation numbers across grassroots and community football, driven by the legacy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ and the ongoing success of the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
This year’s Report confirms football’s position as Australia’s most popular and fastest-growing sport, with over 1.9 million participants nationwide – an 11% increase compared to 2023.
In addition to the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and Australia’s national teams, Football Australia’s innovative grassroots initiatives – particularly the Club Changer: Club Development Program – in combination with the tireless work of the nine Member Federations and volunteer workforce have been pivotal in achieving these results.
Key insights from the 2024 National Participation Report:
- Total participation: Increased by 11% to 1,911,539 participants.
- Women and girls’ participation: Rose 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.
