Football Australia has released a post-tournament report on the Legacy '23 strategy, following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. The tournament, which broke new ground, reportedly generated an economic impact of $1.32 billion in Australia.

Sarah Walsh, Head of Women's Football, World Cup Legacy, and Inclusion at Football Australia, highlighted the societal change led by the CommBank Matildas. "The CommBank Matildas have been at the forefront of transformative societal change, challenging perceptions and gender stereotypes while advocating for sustained evolution within the Australian and international sporting landscape," Walsh said.

The Legacy '23 post-tournament report calls for increased funding to ensure that the legacy of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 evolves into a sustainable foundation for a thriving, equitable, and dynamic future for football.

Football Australia's CEO, James Johnson, has called for continued investment and support to build on the tournament's success and further elevate Australia's position in global football.

The FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 was a significant event, marking the first time the tournament was held in the Southern Hemisphere. The tournament's success has led to a dramatic increase in women's participation in football, adding pressure for government investment to close the $2.9 billion gap in facility investment across Australia.

Football Australia is working with all levels of government to meet the needs of 1.7 million participants across the country. The Federal Government's $200 million Play Our Way grant program was inspired by the CommBank Matildas at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

"The FIFA Women's World Cup was a testament to Australia's capability to host globally significant tournaments. The sporting, economic and societal benefits which the tournament generated, not just to football, but to other sports as well as broader Australian society are now there for all to see in the post-tournament report," said James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia.

Football Australia aims to secure the hosting rights for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, which will require government support at all levels. The organisation believes this will be another value-generator for Australia and a boost to the ongoing growth of Australian football and more broadly throughout Asia and the Oceania region.

"To continue this trajectory, we aim to secure the hosting rights for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, which will require government support at all levels. We believe that this will once again be a huge value-generator for Australia and another boost to the ongoing growth of Australian football and more broadly throughout Asia and the Oceania region," Johnson added.

"The Legacy '23 post-tournament report delves into the success achieved in leveraging the tournament, however, emphasises the need for increased funding to ensure that the legacy of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 isn't merely a momentary triumph, but evolves into foundations for a thriving, equitable, and dynamic future for football," Walsh said.