Soccer in Australia - Statistics & Facts
Soccer, more commonly known as football, is a team sport with origins dating back to 19th century Britain. The sport involves two opposing teams, each of 11 players, including one goalkeeper per side. The sport is estimated to be played by over 250 million players across 200 countries worldwide and watched by around 3.5 billion people. As the world’s most popular sport, it is no surprise that soccer is often referred to as ‘the world’s game’, although the official name is Association Football. The most popular soccer leagues include the Premier League in England, the Bundesliga in Germany, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, and Ligue 1 in France, often referred to as ‘The Big Five’ European football leagues.
Professional soccer in Australia
Australia is home to its own national football league, the A-League. The league comprises 12 teams, 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. Along with playing in the country’s national league, several A-league players also represent Australia in the national men’s squad, the Socceroos. The remaining players are scattered across teams worldwide, including teams in Germany, England, and Italy, which compete in leagues of the Big Five. The Socceroos have qualified for the FIFA World Cup on six occasions since first qualifying in 1974, although are yet to bring home a cup.
While Australia’s A-League may not rank among the top soccer leagues worldwide, soccer in Australia remains a popular choice for spectators and participants alike.
Soccer participation in Australia
Soccer ranks among the most popular participation sports in the nation, with over 1.2 million Australians aged 15 and over participating in the sport in 2022. The sport is even more popular among young Australians, with the participation rate in soccer second only to swimming among children aged up to 14 years old. After childhood, participation in sports trends downward as other commitments, poor health, and other barriers to participation arise.While Australia’s A-League may not rank among the top soccer leagues worldwide, soccer in Australia remains a popular choice for spectators and participants alike.
