2024–25 in Australian soccer explained

The 2024–25 season is the 56th season of national competitive association football in Australia and 142nd overall.

National teams

Men's senior

See main article: Australia men's national soccer team.

FIFA World Cup qualification

See main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC).

= Table

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= Matches

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Men's under-23

See main article: Australia men's national under-23 soccer team.

Friendlies

The following is a list of friendlies (to be) played by the men's under-23 national team in 2024–25.

Men's under-20

See main article: Australia men's national under-20 soccer team.

ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship

See main article: 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship.

AFC U-20 Asian Cup

See main article: 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.

Due to drawing with group leader Saudi Arabia during the qualification process, the Young Socceroos finished second in the group and qualified for the final competition as one of the five best runners-up.^[1]

Panda Cup

Men's under-17

See main article: Australia men's national under-17 soccer team.

Friendlies

The following is a list of friendlies (to be) played by the men's under-17 national team in 2024–25.

AFC U-17 Asian Cup

See main article: 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

After beating Northern Mariana Islands and Kuwait and drawing with Indonesia during the qualification process, the Joeys topped the group thanks to their superior goal difference and qualified automatically for the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.^[2]

Women's senior

See main article: Australia women's national soccer team.

Friendlies

The following is a list of friendlies (to be) played by the women's senior national team in 2024–25.

SheBelieves Cup

In November 2024, Football Australia confirmed the Matildas would make their debut in the SheBelieves Cup in February 2025, joining Colombia and Japan in the United States.^[3]

2024 Paris Olympic games

See main article: Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament.

Australia named a squad of 18 players and 4 alternates for the tournament on 4 June 2024.^[4] Australia performed poorly in the group stage, losing to both Germany and the United States, while barely beating Zambia, the lowest ranked team in the tournament, and conceding 5 goals to them. They ended the tournament third place in their group and were ranked third of the third-placed teams due to goal difference and didn't advance to the knockout stage. Following the tournament Tony Gustavsson's contract came to an end.^[5]

Women's under-23

See main article: Australia women's national under-23 soccer team.

Women's under-20

See main article: Australia women's national under-20 soccer team.

Friendlies

A two-game series against New Zealand was held to help preparations for the U-20 Women's World Cup.^[6]

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

See main article: 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Women's under-17

See main article: Australia women's national under-17 soccer team.

AFC competitions

AFC Champions League Elite

See main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite.

• Central Coast Mariners qualified to the League stage as Premiers in the 2023–24 A-League Men.

AFC Champions League Two

See main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two.

• Sydney FC qualified to the Group stage as winners of the 2023 Australia Cup.

AFC Women's Champions League

See main article: 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League. Melbourne City qualified for the competition as Premiers of the 2023–24 A-League Women.^[7]

After topping the group stage, they will host a quarter-final match on 22–23 March 2025, against an opponent yet to be drawn.

Domestic leagues

A-League Men

See main article: 2024–25 A-League Men.

A-League Women

See main article: 2024–25 A-League Women.

National Premier Leagues

See main article: 2024 National Premier Leagues.

Domestic cups

Australia Cup

See main article: 2024 Australia Cup.

Final

Deaths

• 19 August 2024: Jimmy Armstrong, 81, Australia, Melbourne Hakoah, South Melbourne, Brunswick Juventus, Shepparton United, Morwell Falcons, and Sandringham City forward.^{[8] [9]}
• 6 October 2024: Johan Neeskens, 73, assistant coach of Australia.^{[10] [11]}

Retirements

• After the Paris Olympics tournament: Lydia Williams, 36, former Matildas goalkeeper, retired from international football.^[12]
• 9 August 2024: Ivan Franjic, 36, former Australia, St Albans Saints, Melbourne Knights, Oakleigh Cannons, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, Perth Glory, Macarthur FC, Caroline Springs George Cross, and Heidelberg United defender.^[13]
• 17 August 2024: Morgan Schneiderlin, 34, former France and Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder.^[14]
• 22 September 2024: Lauren Keir, 27, former Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers defender.^[15]
• 10 October 2024: Elise Kellond-Knight, 34, former Australia, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, and Melbourne Victory defender.^[16]
• 16 October 2024: Hannah Wilkinson, 32, former New Zealand and Melbourne City forward.^[17]
• 17 November 2024: Oliver Bozanic, 35, former Australia, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Perth Glory midfielder.^{[18] [19]}
• 1 December 2024: Clare Polkinghorne, 35, former Matildas defender, retiring from international football.^[20]

External links

• Football Australia official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Subway Young Socceroos qualify for AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025. Football Australia. Socceroos. 30 September 2024.
2. Web site: Subway Joeys qualify for AFC U17 Asian Cup after 0-0 stalemate with Indonesia. Football Australia. Socceroos. 28 October 2024.
3. Web site: CommBank Matildas to make historic SheBelieves Cup debut in 2025. Football Australia. Matildas. 21 November 2024.
4. Web site: History making Matildas team selected for Paris Olympics. Football Australia. Matildas. 4 June 2024.
5. Web site: Matildas conclude Paris 2024™ Olympic Campaign. Matildas. Football Australia. 1 August 2024.
6. Web site: CommBank Young Matildas to face Aotearoa New Zealand in two match international series. Matildas. Football Australia. 26 June 2024.
7. News: Melbourne City to enter AFC Women's Champions League . 28 Apr 2024 . Twitter.com.
8. News: South Melbourne football legend Jimmy Armstrong passes away. The Greek Herald. 19 August 2024.
9. Web site: Vale Jimmy Armstrong - Hall of Fame inductee and Socceroo. Football Australia. 26 August 2024.
10. News: Johan Neeskens, former Netherlands and Ajax midfielder, dies aged 73. The Guardian. 7 October 2024.
11. Web site: Vale Johan Neeskens. Football Australia. Socceroos. 8 October 2024.
12. News: 'I've sacrificed everything': Lydia Williams to retire from Matildas. Emma. Kemp. The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 May 2024.
13. MelbKnights. Melbourne Knights. 1821109070822084786. This Friday, our Captain, Ivan Franjic, will play his last game at Knights Stadium as he calls time on his professional football career. So come out and support this Knights legend as he says goodbye. Hope to see you all there cheering Ivan and the side on!. 7 August 2024.
14. Web site: Official Morgan Schneiderlin announces retirement. Yahoo!. 17 August 2024.
15. Web site: Lauren Keir Announces Retirement. Western Sydney Wanderers. 20 September 2024.
16. Web site: Elise Kellond-Knight retires from professional football. Melbourne Victory. 10 October 2024.
17. News: Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson announces retirement from football. The New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2024.
18. Web site: After nearly 20 incredible years, it’s time to hang up the boots.. Bozanic, Oliver. Instagram. 17 November 2024.
19. aleaguemen. A-League Men. 1858061286908768764. A-Leagues champion Oli Bozanic is hanging up the boots after nearly 20 years in pro football.. 17 November 2024.
20. News: Matildas veteran Clare Polkinghorne announces retirement after career spanning almost two decades. ABC News. 2 October 2024.