Football Australia today launched Football Unites: Strengthening Multicultural Australia through Football at Parliament House in Canberra, joined by MPs, Senators and stakeholders from across the football community and non-government sector.
The paper celebrates the multicultural story of Australian football, from the migrant community clubs that built the game to the CommBank Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign.
It also highlights the programs that Football Australia, its Member Federations and partners deliver for culturally diverse communities, supported by the Australian Government, and how football can continue to work with partners to grow that impact.
| 
|
Since the first association football matches were played in Australia in 1880, the game has been shaped by successive waves of migration, with local clubs becoming social and cultural hubs for generations of new arrivals. Today, with nearly two million participants nationwide, football is often the first sporting home for new Australians.
That story was on show at this year’s FIFA World Cup 2026™, where a brave, youthful CommBank Socceroos side reached the knockout phase with 16 World Cup debutants. Six members of the 26-player squad were of African descent, including childhood friends Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure, who were both born in refugee camps before their families made Australia home.
Football’s multicultural reach extends across every level of the game:
- More than 215,000 registered grassroots footballers were born overseas, representing more than 220 cultural backgrounds.
- More than 25 cultural backgrounds were represented in the national team squads at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and FIFA World Cup 2026™.
- The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ in Australia drew more than 350,000 fans, the most in the tournament’s history.
- CommBank Socceroos matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ reached more than 17 million people on SBS, and more than 40,000 Australians attended matches in Canada and the United States.
Since April 2024, Football Australia’s national multicultural programs have hosted more than 7,500 participants from more than 85 nationalities, established more than 300 programs nationwide, and recruited and upskilled more than 600 community champions as volunteers, coaches, referees and youth workers.
Delivered in partnership with settlement agencies, schools, community leaders and multicultural organisations, these programs include settlement support, community inclusion, anti-racism initiatives and pathways into coaching, refereeing and paid work. There is significant scope to extend their reach with the support of new and existing partners.
“The story of Australian football is the story of multicultural Australia,” said Football Australia Chair Anter Isaac, who launched the paper in Canberra.
“It is the story of families who arrived here seeking opportunity. Of communities who built clubs as gathering places and cultural homes. Of generations who found belonging on pitches in every postcode of this country.
“As the world game, football occupies a unique position in Australia. We are often the first sporting home for new Australians and a foundational point of connection for communities.
“While multiculturalism is natural and deeply embedded in our game, we know we must be deliberate in ensuring football continues to serve all Australians. Inclusion does not happen by accident. It requires partnership, investment, and intent.
“There is always more to do. We are committed to working even more closely with our Member Federations, government and the not-for-profit sector to maximise football’s capacity to strengthen communities and support social cohesion nationwide.”
Looking ahead, Football Unites sets out Football Australia’s commitment to building on this success through leadership, participation and partnership, including a dedicated Multicultural Pillar within its National Participation Plan.
Football Unites: Strengthening Multicultural Australia through Football is available here.
