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In just under three weeks, the Socceroos begin their World Cup campaign playing Turkey in Vancouver. It is the sixth straight World Cup appearance for the Australians, an astonishing achievement considering more traditional soccer nations like Italy and Denmark failed to qualify.<\/p>\n
The four-year cycle of heartbreak that followed unsuccessful qualifying campaigns between Australia\u2019s first finals appearance in 1974 and its second in 2006 is almost a distant memory.<\/p>\n
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Socceroo fans during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Coupled with the recent on and off-field success of the Matildas, which has seen the Australian women\u2019s football side become the nation\u2019s most valuable sports brand, soccer in Australia should be flying high.<\/p>\n
But Football Australia, the game\u2019s governing body, is in financial turmoil, and the headlines are not celebrating a Socceroos team on its way to again compete in the world\u2019s biggest sporting event, but rather an administration that has shot itself in the boot.<\/p>\n
FA has just posted a staggering $15.3 million loss \u2013 almost double the previous record deficit of $8.3 million<\/a> set last year. The reversals of fortune come on the back of a golden era for the FA, including hosting the Women\u2019s World Cup in 2023 and the Women\u2019s Asian Cup in 2025.<\/p>\n Despite the commercial golden era seeing revenues climb to a towering $140 million, FA\u2019s bottom line has been relentlessly drained by legacy issues flowing from ongoing disputes with the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), the body running the day-to-day operations of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s A-Leagues since the professional game\u2019s messy split in December 2020.<\/p>\n Some of the decision-making went on behind closed doors. The 2025 annual general meeting banned the media. It is hoped that Thursday\u2019s AGM will be properly transparent.<\/p>\n The board will sign off on the FA\u2019s new chief executive Martin Kugeler\u2019s drastic restructure, making 20 per cent of the federation\u2019s workforce redundant, writing off debts, and fixing board quotas.<\/p>\n But the meeting is also teetering towards a battle over three vacant board positions. Three of the six directors nominated for Thursday\u2019s meeting, including former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, have withdrawn from the running.<\/p>\n It is difficult to believe Australia\u2019s largest participation sport could find itself in such dire circumstances.<\/p>\n In 2025, the code attracted 1.93 million Australians who participated across clubs, schools, social formats and inclusion programs, and it penetrated every corner, culture and generation across Australia. The growth was driven by a nationwide network of more than 3300 community clubs supported by volunteers, coaches and referees who deliver soccer every day.<\/p>\n Yet despite such massive support, the game again finds itself at a crossroads.<\/p>\n In 2003, then prime minister John Howard personally asked billionaire businessman Frank Lowy to take charge of and rescue the nation\u2019s failing soccer administration. He went on to restructure the sport, set up the A-League and saw the Socceroos qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.<\/p>\n Kugeler, has only been in the FA role since February and has already made tough decisions to get the game back in order. If it doesn\u2019t work, another similar intervention will be necessary.<\/p>\n Jordan Baker sends an exclusive newsletter to subscribers each week. Sign up to receive her Note from the Editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n
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