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Association football in Australia

CG-MelbCricketGround-Pano.jpg
Country Australia
Governing body Football Federation Australia
National team Australia national soccer team
Nickname(s) Socceroos
First played 1880
Clubs 14,021
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Audience records
Single match

114,000, Spain vs Cameroon, 30 September 2000, Stadium Australia (National Teams)

99,382, 2015 International Champions Cup, Real Madrid vs Manchester City, 24 July 2015, Melbourne Cricket Ground (Club Teams)

114,000, Spain vs Cameroon, 30 September 2000, Stadium Australia (National Teams)

Soccer, also known as football, is the most played outdoor team sport in Australia, and ranks in the top ten for television audience. The national governing body of the sport is Football Federation Australia (FFA), which organises the A-League, W-League, and FFA Cup, as well as the men's and women's national teams (known as the Socceroos and the Matildas, respectively). The FFA comprises nine state and territory member federations, which oversee the sport within their respective region.

Modern soccer was introduced in Australia in the late 19th century by mostly British immigrants. The first club formed in the country, Wanderers, was founded on 3 August 1880 in Sydney, while the oldest club in Australia currently in existence is Balgownie Rangers, formed in 1883 in Wollongong. Wanderers were also the first known recorded team to play under the Laws of the Game. A semi-professional national league, the National Soccer League, was introduced in 1977. The NSL was replaced by a fully professional league, the A-League, in 2004, which has contributed to a rise in popularity in the sport. Australia was a founding member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) before moving to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006.


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Wikipedia

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