Football Australia (FA) have welcome the Federal Government’s decision to provide $12 million over two years, supporting the progression of elite women’s football in Australia, as well as community engagement.

The grant will allow FA to support high-performance objectives for all Matildas squads, including: additional Matildas international matches in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC), bolstering high-performance resources and international tours and domestic camps for existing national youth teams.

The funding is part of FA’s “Legacy 23” plan, which is aligned with Australia’s co-hosting (with New Zealand) of the FIFA WWC in 2023.

Speaking on the announcement, FA CEO, James Johnson, said the Federal Government have played a huge role.

“Last year we completed a Women’s Performance Gap Report, which offered an objective lens into the current landscape facing Australia’s most talented female footballers, benchmarking Australia against eleven other leading football nations,” Johnson said.

“This deep-dive helped to provide us with a strong understanding of where we sit globally, with the overwhelming takeaway that we must collectively do more to provide opportunities to elite, and prospectively elite, female footballers.

“We are thrilled that the Australian Government have listened to our research, and have opted to support the Matildas, women’s football, and football broadly as our senior team gears up to compete on home soil in 2023 – an event that will be the biggest on Australian shores since Sydney 2000.

“This funding will also provide the next generation of talent the opportunity to play and develop against the world’s best, ensuring that they can perform and act locally, nationally and international as role models.

“This funding will enable FA, in partnership with its member federations and other stakeholders, to deliver enhanced services and engagement to football clubs, participants, coaches and administrators across the nation.

“Through education and support, we will be able to help grassroots and community clubs improve their capacities, which will boost the experience and environment our diverse, multicultural and large football family feel when they engage with the game in a variety of formats.

“There is so much to come, and a stronger partnership between governments at all levels and football will unlock the true potential of our sport for everyone in our country, especially leading into the FIFA WWC 2023,” he said.