Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Soccer in Australia - statistics & facts
Soccer, more commonly known as football, is a team sport with origins dating back to 19th-century Britain. Since its humble beginning, soccer has become a worldwide sport, played by over 250 million people across 200 countries, and watched by around 3.5 billion people. Though not the most popular sport in Australia, that honor being held by the nation’s home- grown sport of Australian rules football, soccer is still the favorite game for many countrywide. Australia’s A-League, while not as well known as some of the world’s larger soccer leagues, such as Europe’s ‘Big Five’, still produces many great players, who represent the country in the national team, as well as play for teams across the world.
The future of soccer in Australia looks bright, with the game maintaining a high level of popularity across all age levels in the country. This popularity will surely surge as Australia enters the FIFA World Cup 2026, after qualifying for the sixth consecutive time in June 2025.
Professional soccer in Australia
Australia is home to its own national football league, the A-League. The league comprises 12 teams or clubs, 11 of which are based in Australia and one in New Zealand. The A-League was established in 2004 by the Football Federation Australia and includes a women’s, men’s, and youth league. Many nationalities are represented in the men’s A-League, though the majority of players are Australian. Most of these A-League clubs have a large supporter base, with some larger cities hosting more than one club. A-League games in Australia also draw large crowds, with the number of soccer game attendees increasing over recent years. On the international scene, Australia’s national team, the Socceroos, have qualified for the FIFA World Cup on six occasions since first qualifying in 1974, though they are yet to bring home the cup.Soccer participation in Australia
Australia is a sporting nation, with some of the most popular sports activities including team games like cricket, basketball, and, of course, soccer. Soccer ranks among the most popular participation sports in the nation, with over a third of Australians showing interest in the game. It is a particularly well-liked game among the nation’s youth, with several hundred thousand children participating in the sport in 2024. After childhood, participation in sports trends downward as other commitments come to the fore, but many adults continue to play soccer well into their later years.The future of soccer in Australia looks bright, with the game maintaining a high level of popularity across all age levels in the country. This popularity will surely surge as Australia enters the FIFA World Cup 2026, after qualifying for the sixth consecutive time in June 2025.
