Football

‘Soccer’ is fast stepping out of the shadows cast by its more illustrious footballing counterparts in Australia. British and European immigrants to Australia introduced the sport in the 19th Century but it was not until the 1950s and 1960s that an influx of Greek, Italian, Croatian and Serbian immigrants ensured the rise in profile for the sport in Australia. The domestic A-League has been fully professional since 2005, and a number of Australian players such as Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwartzer have been successful playing in top European clubs.

The national side, the Socceroos, first played in 1922 and have participated in two World Cups – never progressing beyond the second round. They compete in the Asian Football Confederation and are currently ranked 37^th in the world by FIFA, the governing body of World Association Football. Get news and information at Football Australia.