2022 signals a massive time ahead for Australia football

So as the World Cup host bidding reaches its crescendo, fellow Roarers have been keen to discuss new and innovative formats for the local game.

A successful bid would obviously provide a literally once in a lifetime edge to the game that no other codes could replicate.

And as the doom preachers and naysayers predict the downfall of the A-league, quoting low crowds and financial mishaps, the game is about to get a real shot in the arm.

A successful bid is going to launch football into the front yard of Australia, like it or not. With the barrage of media coverage picking up momentum, the FFA would be crazy not to use the attention to launch a new era of the game.

Football has one major advantage in Australia and that is the fact that it is the team sport with the highest participation rate in Australia.

Despite this enormous stat, the A-League has failed to fully connect with this community.

A huge number of factors could be associated to this such as a lack of marketing, a perception of low quality, lack of tribalism, Eurosnobs or high-ticket prices. Some of these issue can be easily fixed, some of them will take time.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. 2022, hopefully, is the year when Australia can come together as one and celebrate just how far football has come since 2006.

But until then a new long term plan needs to be put in place by the Football gods of Australia to ensure this dream is ready for 2022 and continues on after that.

So below is a result of a mix between my and other Roarer’s ideas for the next 15-20 years and the road to the world cup.

December 2010

Australia is awarded the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2021 Confederations Cup.

January/February 2011

Australia is awarded the rights to host the 2015 Asian Cup

Planning begins to ensure a timely completion of infrastructure and stadia to avoid a media assault like what South Africa experienced in the lead up to the 2010 world cup.

March 2011
FFA announces that 2011/2012 will be the first season in which the FFA Cup is contested. All state and local teams will be involved in a competition that is designed to involve all in the game. The competition will run from October to April and all rounds fixtures and home advantage will be randomly drawn except semi finals and finals. The winner of the Cup will be awarded with an ACL spot along with the A-League Champions and Premiers.

October 2011
West Sydney Rovers play their debut game in the now October starting A-League

January 2012
FFA and NZ Football announce plans for a new divisional system for the A-League, which will eventually feature promotion and relegation.

The top state league teams will join new (initially) FFA-backed regionally based teams, in what at first will be a single conference style division. WA, SA and VIC and TAS teams will play in Conference South-West while NT, ACT, NSW and QLD teams will play in Conference North-East with the overall division to be called the Australian National Division. (Sure not the most inspiring names but you get the picture).

This, initially large, division with potentially 20 teams in its inaugural year will be used to test the waters for the first potential teams to play in the new A2 league in the next season.

The criteria on promotion will not just be based on final positions but also with an added emphasise on long-term sustainability and financial stability due to the smaller budgets and expected crowds for lower divisions. The Australian National Championship will begin in October 2013 and will be significantly reduced the following year to allow the addition of 10 teams (as well as two promoted teams from the ASB Premiership in NZ) to the A2 League for its inaugural season in 2014 while adding two new state teams for the following season.

FFA release strategy to eventually shift the local and state league seasons to start and finish several months later to streamline the Australian football season in order to better facilitate this new system.

January 2015
Australia successfully hosts the 2015 Asian Cup with the Socceroos reaching the final to play local rivals Japan after facing tough games against China and North Korea. The significant media coverage in this time period increases national awareness of Australian football and A-League attendance post-cup skyrockets as the season draws to its finale.

October 2016
Following three seasons of the Australian National Championship and two seasons of the A2-League, the 2016/2017-football season begins with A-League teams now facing the very real threat of relegation for the first time in the competition’s 11-year existence.

January 2017
Major stadium construction and upgrades begin for World Cup and Confederations Cup host cities.

October 2020
Blacktown Stadium is officially opened with a season opener sell out between bitter rivals Sydney FC and West Sydney Rovers.

December 2020
Upgrades to existing stadia including Newcastle Stadium, Olympic Stadium, Carrara, Lang Park and SFS are completed as well as the construction of new stadia in Canberra, and Townsville. Perth Stadium, Skilled Stadium and the new Adelaide Oval are nearly finished and are expected to be opened at the 2021 Confederations Cup.

June 2021
Australia hosts 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup with Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide and Geelong hosting 16 matches between them.

Australia finishes a respectable 3rd after a epic encounter with Brazil in the semi final was only decided in the 92nd minute when Brazilian captain Alexandre Pato blasted a unstoppable 20 yard screamer past Australian star 33 year old keeper Mitchell Langeraak.

Australia then went on to beat African cup winners Côte d’Ivoire in the 3rd place play off.

June 2022
The World Cup the world would remember. Australian Government declares World Cup as a school holiday and the Australian game days as Public Holidays.

Australia’s road to embracing the game over the course of the decade is shown as the three weeks completely grip the nation.

100,000 people cram into the MCG on the final making it one of the highest attended world cup games ever. Australia shows it is capable of competing on the world stage and it’s strong performance on home soil allows it to become a serious contender for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US.