Anna 
Football Australia has rebranded the National Youth Championships with a fresh identity and vision, unveiling the Emerging Socceroos and Emerging Matildas Championships. This transformation aims to raise the standard for youth football development in Australia, offering a prestigious platform for the country’s rising stars.
The Emerging Socceroos Championships for boys under 15 and 16 will take place from July 6–11, 2025, at the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University in Melbourne. The Emerging Matildas Championships for girls in the same age group will follow from July 15–20, 2025, at Valentine Sports Park in Sydney.
The competitions, spanning 12 days, will feature up to 58 teams from Football Australia’s nine State and Territory Member Federations. These teams will battle for the national title, with their talent on full display for national team coaches and technical staff. The tournaments are designed as key events in Football Australia’s talent identification program, helping to launch future stars for the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos.
Many top players from the national teams, including Mackenzie Arnold, Jordan Bos, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Hayley Raso, began their journeys at these tournaments, showcasing the vital role they play in developing elite athletes.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson emphasized the importance of these championships, noting that they provide a platform for players to experience world-class facilities and mirror the professional environments of senior teams. “This decision reinforces our ambition to strengthen the connection between youth football and the professional level,” Johnson said.
The 2025 championships are also a major draw for local economies, with Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos highlighting the economic benefits for Melbourne. The Emerging Matildas Championships are supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
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