The A-League season may be done and dusted, but there is still plenty more football to come for Australian football fans.
The Western Sydney Wanderers barely have time to regroup from their heartbreaking grand final loss to the Brisbane Roar before they travel to Japan.
There, they will face off against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in an Asian Champions League round of 16.
The Wanderers will be looking for a good result in Japan to put them in pole position for the return leg at Wanderland, in which they hope to further progress through the tournament and continue to fly the flag for the A-League.
On the international stage, our boys in Green and Gold will look to conquer the world as the FIFA World Cup begins in just over 30 days on June 12. In the meantime, our boys have a farewell match against South Africa in Sydney on May 26, which will be a nice appetiser to the main event.
The Socceroos, who are not expected to get out of their group, start their campaign against South American heavyweights Chile on June 14 at 8:00am AEST. They will face further tests against the 2010 World Cup finalists, Spain and the Netherlands.
Ange Postecoglou’s young team will gain invaluable experience by competing against the world’s best players on the biggest stage of them all, which is certainly an exciting prospect for Australian fans.
And even at the conclusion of the World Cup, the FFA Cup will commence shortly after on July 29.
The FFA Cup is the new national knockout competition, which will put the best 22 FFA member federation teams (decided by individual state qualifying tournaments) alongside all 10 A-League franchises.
The 32 teams will then fight it out until there is one winner of the inaugural FFA Cup. The possibility of creating new rivalries between the older NSL clubs and the newer A-League clubs is a mouth-watering concept.
How good would it be to see South Melbourne play Melbourne Victory? Or Sydney Olympic battle it out against Sydney FC? These situations are all possible and matches between the sides now have a purpose thanks to the introduction of the knockout format.
Before you know it the A-League 2014/15 season will have begun with a home Asian Cup just around the corner. Enjoy the football!
Midfielder
Guest
Tow Have read the news on where it was sent before but that vid like wow ...
Towser
Guest
Just on the A-League next season it and the FFA cup will be beamed into India and a few other Asian nation's soon. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/A-League-and-FFA-Cup%E2%80%99s-Asia-TV-deal/90362 Apologies if anybody's put this up elsewhere.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy Some more terrific news. Not sure how much the deal is worth, but it's the exposure that is so critical. A-League and FFA Cup’s Asia TV deal The Hyundai A-League & new FFA Cup tournament will be beamed across the subcontinent from next season. One of India's largest sports broadcasters – Ten Sports – has secured the rights to both competitions for the next three years. As part of the deal the network will broadcast a minimum of 86 of the 140 matches of the A-League season, as well as at least 10 games from the FFA Cup. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/a-league-and-ffa-cup%E2%80%99s-asia-tv-deal/90362
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Not saying he's crude but I think he's touch on the ball is not quite the standard of some of our more illustrious Socceroos. As for "He has never been sent off playing in the Championship or EPL", expect non-EPL/Championship Refs to see the world differently at the WC.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
My cornucopia of sporting viewing delight now is ; 1 ACL 2 FIH Hockey World Cups 3 Womens Asian Cup 4 LeTour 5 Wallabies vs France 6 FFA Cup + FIFA WC 7 HAL Season 10 !!!!!! :-)
Suburban Boy
Guest
I actually don't think it's about market share and maximising returns. For the Socceroos farewell game four years ago in Melb, there was over 90,000 in attendance and Liverpool packed out the MCG.in the middle of last year. Plenty of dollars in those games. And does anyone seriously believe that Newcasle is a better financial option for the Asian Cup quarter finals than say Brisbane. I think the underlying reason is a belief that NSW is the heartland of the game, and the people there have a first right to see the Socceroos. Add to that the fact that the people who make the desisions about where the games will be played are based in Sydeney and there is the answer.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
True, the FFA should hold more of these games around the country to spread the message. Unfortunately these games are also run by marketing and promotion companies who look for the biggest market share and returns to maximise their payment from FFA.
Suburban Boy
Guest
And one day FFA might even schedule a big match outside NSW. There is a whole country beyond the borders of NSW that FFA is only dimly aware of.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Yep. She still plays for SFC Women, but was dumped from the Matildas when she chose to play in the Womens T20 Cricket WC instead of going into camp with the Matildas.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Another football tournament to add to the list. :) 2014 Womens' Asian Cup (2015 Womens' WC Asian Qualification tournament) kicks off next week 14th May and runs till 25th May. Shown live on Foxtel and on delay with ABC TV and highlights on SBS.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Japan became the first Asian nation to win a FIFA World Cup in 2011. http://www.aljazeera.com/sport/football/2011/07/201171718416280786.html Australia is the current Asian Women Champions winning the Asian Cup Tournament by beating North Korea in 2010. In defence of their title, Australia face Japan in their first game for the 2014 Asian Cup on 14 May. The tournament is played in Vietnam and runs until the 25th May when they play the final. This women's Asian Cup is the qualification tournament for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Canada in June 2015. There are 5 spots available for Asian nations - semi-finalists and 5th placed team - up from 3 spots for Asian teams at the last womens WC.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
He's not that agricultural. He's a handy player actually and will play a major role for the Socceroos at Brazil. He has never been sent off playing in the Championship or EPL. Though I still think we don't have enough World Class players during this transition period and will bow out after the first round anyway.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
And plenty of tickets still left for the Socceroos v South Africa in a couple of weeks at ANZ Stadium on 26th at 7:30. Will be live on Fox and 1 hour delay on SBS.
Mahonjt
Guest
In very generalised terms, the BPL clubs are the traditional powerhouses of QLD football and the NPL teams the rising powers. The NPL team will be banking that additional FIFA cash, attracting the emerging investment, playing NPL football and attracting the young talent and will close the gap over time. Ultimately the BPL clubs will get back in the fold and put the interests of player development ahead of their own parochial interest. Their boycott is ultimately unsustainable.
Bondy
Guest
Magila It was a pi^^ take mate . Matt Skellett E Perry's form in the W League didn't warrant selection to coin a phrase she was ring rusty or out of position quite often and flat with her timing and rhythm ,wonder why. National Team coach Stajic is also Perry's Coach at Sydney F.C's Women's team .
Punter
Guest
Yep I love the swimming. Big stats man & love following the times. Did you know Thorpie 100 metres where he won a bronze in 2004 is only the 10th best 100 swim by an Aussie, while his 200 & 400, for which he is better known for are still Aussie records.
70s Mo
Guest
Bondy - Mr Armstrong knew how to go 65 km/h no problems
Magila Cutty
Guest
Bondy "never been able to figure out how they ride at 65 kmh for 3 weeks" Yeah mate that'd be because they don't. Don't know exactly but it's somewhere around 40kmh.
BigAl
Guest
The Commonwealth Games ??? - and as high as No. 8 !!! ???
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Anyone notice Ellyse Perry was not named in the Matildas Squad for the WAC?