DALLAS, TEXAS — Football Australia Chief Executive Officer Martin Kugeler promises to seize the moment after the Socceroos’ World Cup run but has again reiterated the sport can only do so much without government investment.
Speaking the morning after Australia’s World Cup campaign ended, Kugeler backed Socceroos boss Tony Popovic but also provided assurances that the game will build on the goodwill this campaign has earned as the youngest squad at the tournament became household names in Australia.
“It’s a heartbreak for all of us, all the fans, everyone who has been traveling, everyone who’s been watching home,” he reflected.
“But we can be extremely proud and I think Australia can be extremely proud of the team and what they have achieved. And to see how they have united the nation again, how they’ve brought everyone back home behind them, the support that they got. This was incredible to see.”
Football Australia has been on the front foot now for months on the notion of government funding. Kugeler explained it is not just the Home of Football that is at the heart of this campaign.
“What will be key is an increased investment into the game,” he insisted.
“There’s no doubt about it. Other nations increase the investment. We are not a sport code that is funded by pokies in order to continue and we want to win in knockout stages. We want to go deeper into the tournament. What that will require is an increased investment into the game.
“From one end from the commercial partners, but definitely also increased investment and support by the governments. And that is one part and we’ve been talking about that home of football, but that will be not enough.
“We have to increase our investment in our pathways, in our talents, we have to broaden the pipeline of talents coming through, coach education, all of those components that will make us successful in the future and what we want to achieve is more successful in the future.
“So that increased support and investment will be required.
“Also for grassroots we’ve talked about that in grassroots, we want all the kids playing. How many kids will be inspired after this to pick up a ball, go with their parents to a park and kick the ball, join a club? But if we want to continue being successful, then we need that increased investment.
“And I think bringing me back to the point earlier, what football can do for this nation to unite all the communities is very unique.
“If anyone needed a reminder for that, this World Cup was a reminder. How many people were following, what the power of football is and for that we need the support of the government.”
But, this is a plea and message we’ve heard before – are politicians listening?
“That’s why I’m saying if anyone needed a reminder, just look at the live sites, look at the schools, look at the families watching at home, look at the viewing numbers that we had on broadcast. But we know even though politicians weren’t traveling here they were supporting the game, right? They were following, they were supporting the game, and we have a lot of support.
“And it is also on us to work with the government and reiterate the strength and the power that this game has for Australia.”
While Football Australia has tentpole events like the friendly against Brazil, an Asian Cup and the Women’s World Cup in Brazil to keep momentum going, the challenge lies in whether the A-League is capable of seizing the moment – something it failed to do in 2022 and 2023, with incidents sending momentum backwards.
“We have got the professional clubs and some professional clubs also traveled with us at the World Cup and there’s definitely the intent, the plans together with the A-League, how to harness that success.
“But again, it means we all have to work together. And the signs have been very positive. We have put a lot of the historic issues to bed before the World Cup, which enables us to really have a fresh start for Steve (Rosich, APL CEO) and and myself, and the teams around us to work together in how do we exactly as you say harness that success that the Socceroos have have built, the momentum that we have built into the next A-League season, into the next Australia Cup season, but also for all our community football and all our NPL clubs as well.”