Matthew Hall
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Australia: Say Hello To Your New Little Friend
Last week's Sydney overdose of Becksmania brought us the future of football as we will soon know it.
No, David Beckham is not set to be unveiled as the poster boy of the A-League.
Nor will friendly matches against Harlem Globetrotter-like football teams become regular fixtures nor will Homebush again host a full house for a Sydney FC game in the near future.
Ladies and gentlemen, the future of Australian football is the United States of America - like it or not.
Earlier this year, it was announced Australia was to play two games in the US, scheduled for this past September. One game was to be against the US national team and the other Mexico, who regularly play north of the border to tap into their massive expatriate fan base.
The rescheduled match against Argentina saw those games canned but the intent from Football Federation Australia was clear. While our new membership of the Asian Football Confederation is a great thing, there's gold on the other side of the Pacific.
Sydney's match against Los Angeles Galaxy, brokered - crucially - by FFA, is the first kiss of what will be a long and important relationship with American soccer.
Both countries football experiences share common themes, as well as many differences.
Football in both Australia and the US is a sport transitioning from that played mostly by migrants into the game of choice of new generations.
Both have growing national leagues and national teams that regularly punch above their weight.
Both countries are exporters of talent to Europe's top leagues.
The US and Australia also share enemies from within. They have to compete not just with internal prejudices about European football's domination but also long-established heavyweight local sports (that few outside their borders give one, let alone two, hoots about).
Organically, Australian talent is probably ahead of the United States but the American development system is well-structured with excellent facilities. The college system is an efficient talent pool for Major League Soccer recruitment.
Australia's marketing of football and its media is focused and coherent compared with its American cousin, still struggling to come to terms with its massive market.
The United States has a huge population. Australia doesn't. That's a key point.
But football in the US and Australia are like two flirting teenagers set for a perfect match. There's too much in common for a long-ignored relationship not to finally blossom.
Further proof is the establishment of the Pan Pacific Championship.
It's early days but if the Australian, Japanese, and US leagues and public get behind it this has the potential to be a huge success, unlike any opportunity previously seen in Australian sport.
It's no accident that Los Angeles Galaxy, a wanna-be global super team, is guaranteed entry each year no matter how poor the team plays in its domestic competition (and believe me, they have been poor recently).
But that's a sign that Galaxy, progressive in its worldview, sees the region as a long-term food basket to accompany its other growing markets.
As well as US and CONCACAF competition, MLS teams already play Mexican sides, an even bigger football market, in the newly created Superliga.
Thankfully, FFA's own progressive thinking has come to the point where it recognises Australia is not Europe.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter once said that Asia is the future. He was right.
But equally, and especially for Australia, so too is the Pacific: the USA, Japan, and eventually Mexico.
So, say hello to your new little friend.
COMMENTS
The occasional exhibition match against US teams lets us measure our standards against the MLS. However, I don't think we stand to achieve too much from this Pan Pac competition.
The future is the Asian Champions League. AFC have to get their act together and organise a credible comp with teams from Asia's top league.
Teams from Australia, Japan, Korea, China and Saudi Arabia should get automatic qualification while the smaller nations should battle it out for the remaining positions like in Europe.
- by MIchael on December 01, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Bring back 'Aussie Gus'!!!
- by Soccolly fan on December 01, 2007 at 06:35 PM
Hhhhhmmmmm - some interesting observations allied to illogical conclusions.
In short, what a load of old cobblers...!!
US football ofers Australia one thing and one thing only ... access to a very large market that is almost entirely uninterested inf football. The japanese and Chinese markets, however, offer Australia access to even larger markets in toto, filled with people passionate and knowledgable about football, with national teams that try to play skillful, high speed football.
The US is much more likely to want to come along for that ride, rather than in being the holy grail. The addition of Mexico into that mix is a much more important and potentially powerful step. Mexico brings a football culture, a very large football-mad population and real skill and class
In summary, a Pan-Pacific championship, at both club and national level, could be HUGE, with enormo8us media coverage in some of the world's largest markets. The US would be like spice in good meal - an essential adddition but hardly the key ingredient.
Er... yeah, as I just explained. The point is that for Australia, the US is our football ally in that region.
- by kywong73 on December 01, 2007 at 07:29 PM
I would think that Australia's future is more Asia and Europe. Especially since Europe is where the best leagues are and where players from the rest of the world, including Australia and US, wish to test themselves.
For now the US league has smaller gate than the A-League, and like the A - League is a place to start your career or to wind down your career.....
- by Andrew J Smith on December 01, 2007 at 10:51 PM
Um, if you're writing an article in Australia and you refer to "Australian football", most people will assume you're talking about AFL, not that effete, boring game with the round ball. Call it soccer, ferchissake. Then those of us who are not interested (ie: the majority) won't bother to download the article.
As for the future of Australian soccer - who cares? Hopefully it will always be a minority code here. My fear is that it will continue to grow in popularityt because of parents over-protecting their little cream puffs and encouraging them to play the safe non-contact code of soccer, rather than the far more exciting contact sport of Aussie Rules - surely hands down the best football code in the world. Pity the rest of the world doesn't know more about it and what they're missing out on.
Shit, I was disappointed to download this article and see it was about soccer. Thought for a moment the Yanks were catching on to Aussie Rules. It would be a natural fit there if it was widely promoted. Makes gridiron look lame.
- by Rolan Stein on December 02, 2007 at 03:38 AM
The kids in the US who play soccer won't even watch it on TV. Our comedians joke that the LA Galaxy lost their one viewer when Beckham was hurt. Don't count on the US as a great source of interest.
- by Eric in the USA on December 02, 2007 at 06:55 AM
It's a fair distance, but it would appear on the globe that South America is closer to our shores than North America.
From what I have observed, those guys are pretty good at soccer.
I reckon they'd love Aussie Rules as well - perhaps a cultural exchange program?
- by Roman E Conti on December 02, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Rolan Stein's full of drivel. To respond to his post would be to acknowledge him more than he warrants.
And Roman E Conti misses the point. I hope for his sake you're no relation to the great Conti of the FCA. It's about a fit between the nations - culturally, commercially, etc - not pure geographics.
Contact with any competitive nation should be encouraged. The last thing we want is a throwback to playing island nations. That helps noone. They themselves however require their own development, competitions, etc, to nurture and grow.
- by Helmut on December 02, 2007 at 01:15 PM
Thanks for the great article Matt, The sleeping Giant (FOOTBALL) is awakening in our country too, having new friends by the thousands daily.Thanks to the people who beleived in it. We (Football fans) love all people and respect all sprorts, they keep the mind and body healthy.
The marketing now is focused on Football,the examples are daily on the adds.
Bringing matches with the US teams will not hurt our sport,but promote it further.
Just remember... I TOLD YOU SO.
- by FOOTBALL IS LIFE on December 02, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Just want to clear up something for Rolan. Football IS a contact sport. You have obviously never played the game. I have played football for over 30 years. I am still playing - and still playing in an all age competition. Can you do that with Rugby Leage or Union where brute strength and size are all that dominate? Part of the appeal of football is this, it is a game where skill and intelligence are just as importanat as athletic ability (and in some ways more important). It is a game that has players from 3yrs to 60+ years. If you don't believe me - have a proper look at the competitions run around Sydney. Whether you like it or not, football is actually the number one code in Australia - more people play football than any other code - and the problem is not finding players, but finding grounds to play on.
- by Stephen on December 02, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Erm, Steven - you've misunderstood me. I was not referring to those two messy games, Rugby League or Union. When you refer to "football" in Australia, you're referring to AFL - that is, Australian Rules Football, the greatest of all football codes.
As for soccer being a contact sport - oh, please. Even at the highest level, those wusses get a little knock and they're rolling around on the ground in apparent agony, staging for a penalty or to have the "culprit" given a red card, or whatever. That sort of crap is precisely why AFL fans look at a creampuff code like soccer with such derision.
Not to mention the frequent nil all scores. It's a very inferior code all round, but since it's already well-entrenched as THE global football code, unfortunately it's obviously here to stay. Popularity does not necessarily equate to quality or superiority, though...remember when every household in Australia had a copy of "Hot August Night? (heh heh - we all have a rubbish bin, too!)
BTW, I don't know why you think it's a positive that the nature of the game is such that players can still be active at 60. That says a lot about the pissweak physical demands of the code, and why it is so dreary to watch for AFL fans who are used to a real contact game with enormous skill requirements AND physical demands.
- by Rolan Stein on December 02, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Football is the most played sport in Australia. End of debate.
- by Michael Otten on December 02, 2007 at 08:39 PM
AFL a contact sport Rolan ? The AFL players are just as effete as those you dismissed. At least use a relevant analogy such as rugby, ice hockey or league if you want to take a tough guy persona.
AFL tried and tried and tried to get coverage here. Now its even been dropped from its Tuesday 2.30am highlights slot.
- by NY Mike on December 03, 2007 at 02:20 AM
Personally, I can't see soccer even being as big in America as the NFL. The NFL is the most watched televised sport in the US. College football is a close second. In fact, the most famous soccer player in the US is not David Beckham but Mia Hamm who was on the gold medal winning US women's soccer world cup team.
- by Crystal on December 03, 2007 at 08:56 AM
Disagree. I don't think we should expand games against MLS teams any more than what has been proposed.
The future is Asia. Countries like China, Japan & Korea are idea for our expansion. These folks treat football as a Tier 1 sport and have enough money.
In US, we are back to the same problem of being treated as a Tier 2 sport. On top of that I don't think there is much quality in US or in Mexico (always seem to stuff up at highest level) for us improve.
My 2c is that we improve our ties with Asian clubs. Get some of the top Asian players to come and play in the A-league. Particularly, the SE Asian players. Being in the same timezone, we can then export A-league games to those countries. Asians have a huge respect for our soccer. This is the future and a good one if managed well.
- by sfx on December 03, 2007 at 09:33 AM
The 2006 World Cup finally allowed Aussie boys to follow two codes of footy without shame. Reckon this new tournament will add to the football interest.
I grew up playing soccer but we all watched rugby league as it was the only code on tele except that weird Melbourne game.
I love our Wallabies but am now entirely comfortable following the Socceroos, and am looking forward to taking my young sons to Sydney FC games when they're old enough.
League and AFL waste a lot of young talent that could be better utilized in less parochial games. AFL will also never catch on overseas while it is called "Australian" football.
- by AndrewB on December 03, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Let me introduce Rolan Stein, AFL employee. Why on every football blog do we have these muppets?
All I can see is fear and insecurity Rolan.
Go away.
- by Griffo on December 03, 2007 at 09:46 AM
ROLAN - YOUR A GOOSE ! such a ONE EYED PERSON !! AND IGNORANT FOOL ! I grew up playing Rugby Union.. which actually takes alot of skill and technical ability and alot of thinking as there is so much to think about with set plays, Learning to scrummage, learning line out calls.. I played a high level for Sydney University.. BUT THE SPORT i love the most and play today is FOOTBALL ! I dont like the play acting that you see in Europe or south america but i look past that because i know it is a beautiful game. One that requires skill, both physically and technically along with keeping a tactic and structure at hand! AFL is good to watch but doesnt compare to FOOTBALL.. and ball game that requires you to touch the ball whilst in play should not be called Football ! And any game that is only popular in one country doesnt deserve to be seen as the best "Ball code" in this country or anywhere else ! Plus its a running joke on AFL that you need extra sticks to get a point for missing! shut up Rolan and pull your head in . you dont speak for the majority of AFL fans !
- by Gianni on December 03, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I have played Union and AFl as a kid , I only play football/soccer now. My young kids also play this great game.......
There is a reason why no other country plays AFL and league .......because they really are crap.....the world view doesn't lie...
- by Doug T on December 03, 2007 at 10:40 AM
The LA Galaxy & David Beckham show was good for football in Australia but if we really want to be competitive in football now we must bring in some world class clubs to our shores like Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid or Barcelona instead of mickey mouse clubs like the "Galaxy".
- by Robbie Dawson on December 03, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Methinks Helmut misses the point.
Witness Eric in the USA's blog previous to ours Helmut; He correctly observes that no-one there gives a flying **** about the round ball game.
It may be more fruitful to engage with nations that can actually offer new skills and paradigms.
You talk of 'cultural and commercial fit' - Australia has this with the U.S. and Japan?
And not Latin America?
And if not, why not? At least the vast majority of the continent is in our hemisphere.
You claim that it has nothing to do with geography, yet SFX further down the blog makes a solid argument for an Asian focus for the future.
And my initial missive was incorrect in that South America is a lot further away than North America!
- by Roman E Conti on December 03, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Matthew
I wrote "The US would be like spice in good meal - an essential adddition but hardly the key ingredient."
You responded "Er... yeah, as I just explained."
well, actually, that's NOT what you explained. You stated "the future of Australian football is the United States of America - like it or not". I DISAGREE. The future of Australian football is in Asia. It can be supplemented very usefully by regular matches against Mexico , as well as other Central and South American nations which border the Pacific. Regular matches against US national and club teams may expose Australian footbal to a large additional market, but it will hardly shape our future.
BTW - thaks for leaving Rolan Stein's postings on the blog. It's always nice to inject a little buffoonery!
- by kywong73 on December 03, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Heh heh - you're a funny little fella, Gianni, getting all hot and bothered. Ditto Griffo and Mike. While you guys react with such heat and bitchiniess to the challenge that AFL eats your boring, low-scoring, pansy game of SOCCER, people like me will simply derive a chuckle out of winding you up.
I repeat, AFL is far and away the best football code in the world. I know folk from the UK, South Africa and Canada (plenty of the first two in Perth these days) who have converted to AFL after a season of getting to understand it, and now rave over it.
I do understand the rules of soccer (well, bit of a no-brainer...it is, after all, a very simple game)...do you reflex knockers of AFL really understand the game? I think not, or you would be writing posts like me.
Merry Xmas you poor misguided SOCCER tragics.
- by Rolan Stein on December 03, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Interesting article, but I disagree. I think it is short sighted and illogical to even contemplate the USA as a 'football partner' to Australia. Will it make us some money? Possibly. Will it improve our team and international standing? Hell No.
Football in the US is the same stagnate spot we are, expect more people and money make it seem more successful.
Becxkham has never been one of the most talented palyers, just the most marketable. TV ratings fdont win you matches. And even if Becks had skills galore, he is past his prime. Great for publicity, but if we want to play, and win, at an international standard we really need more games against teams like Argentina.
While evryone was in paparazzi mode for becks, they failed to notice we had the worlds current best player, Messi, down here recently.
we should be focussing on exposing our team to more players of the calibre of Messi, not chasing our tails in gimmicky promotional games with 2nd rate teams like the LA Galaxy....
Maybe its time they reached out an got a latino coach....
- by pelusa on December 03, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Rolan lets put it in a simple way somoene small brained like you (or was it all those contact hits playing AFL that left you so dumb?) can understand.
Futbol is Chess....all those other sports are nothing but a game of checkers....
AFL is a backyard game, no one else in the world plays it, you cant even play against the Irish without changing half the rules.... and of course the scores are going to be high, when you have goals that big, with a consolation prize....
And how does AFL, Union or League have the cheek to even try to claim the word football...last i checked you guys still need to use your hands for most of the games.... Handball is amore apt title...
or in AFLs case..Hand Brawl....:-)
- by Loko One on December 03, 2007 at 01:20 PM
When I saw the headline about Australian Football, I thought it was how the AFL would soon spread into the USA. Unfortunatley, it was an article about soccer, a game that is so boring on the field that the spectators have to turn to fistfights to see any action.
Americans may play it, but that doesn't mean that it is popular there. It will never come close to the "big three": Baseball, American (i.e. "real") Football, and Basketball. Of course, if you throw Ice Hockey into the mix, then soccer has no place to go.
No. Don't look to the US for soccer help. And don't look to Europe, which only cares about itself. Develop the game here in Australia, and play against our neighbours in Asia. And stop calling it the "beautiful game". Boring - yes, but "beautiful", never.
- by Jim of Bentley on December 03, 2007 at 01:28 PM
Rolan, the point about people of almost any age (and either gender) being able to get out and play the game is simply that this is what sport is about - getting out and doing it, not sitting at home with a beer on your bloated belly watching someone else doing it.
Perhaps this is the most fitting comment for you:
Those that can - do.
Those that can't - sit on the side line and criticize.
PS: Given the injuries I have seen over the years, there is no question that soccer is a contact sport.
- by Stephen on December 03, 2007 at 01:33 PM
Please...I've seen so many good threads derailed by WUM who just come in and write the usual anti-football stuff (we heard all of it before...and the argument against it as well).
Going back on topic. I would approach Matthew's argument from another angle. I agree with him, but I would also add that Australia is the only Asian team that has a similar cultural heritage and a shared language with the USA.
So while we should focus on our Confederation, I think that there are benefits in closer links with the USA.
- by Guido on December 03, 2007 at 01:42 PM
It's great to see kids interested in sports other than ARL (Thugby), but why is the media obsessed with 'Land-Based' sports?
Surfing gets a mention when an Australian wins, Sailing...we only cover the Syd-Hobart....like-wise for Motorcycling...Go Casey.
C'mon oz media, help promote sports where people behave themselves and can appeal to ordinary people instead of roided beer-swilling steak-sandwich heads.
- by Pop Eye on December 03, 2007 at 01:51 PM
While I agree with Helmut, I just have to say it...
Rolan, you idiot, I think you are getting Australia confused with Victoria. I think you will find that not many people elsewhere would automatically think of AFL when they hear the words 'Australian Football'. Come visit the rest of Australia some time, you might realise FOOTBALL is actually alive and well and that other codes (and, dare I say it, even other SPORTS) actually do exist!
- by Lil on December 03, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Asia is the future, however, FFA can play it smart and leverage off MLS for one-off comps and exhibition matches like the Beckham match. MLS will always attract bigger stars who are looking to retire than the A-League. The market, money and lifestyle it offers will appeal to some top players at the end of their career. I heard Juan Sebanstian Veron is the latest to go to the MLS.
FFA need to look at opportunities to bring them out to our country and vice versa.
I can tell Rolan has never left Victoria. No one gives a stuff about AFL any where else. I grew up watching rugby league and still follow it. However, the Socceroos are definitely my favourite national team after the World Cup last year. I look forward to the World Cup qualifiers next year.
Rolan can enjoy that AFL "rep game" - what was it again? Victoria vs Rest of the World?????
- by Ryan on December 03, 2007 at 07:34 PM
Rolan Klein is a very good example of a certain minority type of Australian: ignorant, parochial, domineering and foul-mouthed.
However he should at least be credited with being in solidarity with AFL CEO Andrew Demitriou, who declared the AFL to be the official enemy of the other Australian male sports at last year's AFL convention (see Richard Hind's reports in the Age and the SMH).
The Irish concurred with this perception of AFL culture when they eventually tired of the crude AFL attitude on and off the field and cancelled the so-called "international rules" series.
The phenomenal growth of football in this country (or just for Rohan's sake "Australian football") means that it now has more registered players than the hand-foot ball codes combined across all age brackets and aggregately. (This is without taking account of the many players competing in formal independent school competitions in all states.)
There is now a very strong representation of the "young men in their prime" age group, ie 20 to early 30 year olds. In the Sydney region, for example, there would be approximately 100 divisions of fixture competition in this age group. "All those little kids" who used to play the game have now grown up!
In this sense football is already our national game.
If Eric from the USA were to check the statistics in that country, he would also be alarmed at the number of Americans of all ages and both sexes now playing the world game.
Additionally, the phenomenal rise of the Socceroos during the last two years, in terms of sell-out attendances and booming TV ratings, means that they already are, or soon will be our flagship national sporting team. This suggestion was first raised in the media by perceptive Foxsports rugby broadcaster Geg Clarke after the 2006 World Cup, much to the annoyance of his co-commentators Phil Kearns and Greg Martin.
The Socceroos are now clearly the sports team with the greatest potential to unite Australia across all states and ethnic groups.
As the global shape of a football itself symbolises, it is now far and away the the most popular game on the planet, and has become in a sense the first global language.
Even at the Olympic Games, Football now records the highest aggregate attendances of any Olympic sport, as much as it hurts me to admit this when my own favourite sport is still athletics.
A critical issue here is trend.
Football in Australia and the USA, in terms of both playing numbers and audiences is growing at a rate which frightens people like Rohan and Eric. The very clear trend is there for all to see.
In both countries this growth has taken place against the tide of prejuidice and vested interests that have done everything possible to suppress the game's development.
Could this just possibly point to the fact that, in the unfettered experience of the vast majority of the family of man, it is a fundamentally more enjoyable and popular game?
ps - I read recently that two Australian AFL fans are to appear in a Californian court after an argument with an American over the relative merits of AFL and Gridiron turned violent.
I can't help thinking it must have been a very brief conversation before the fisticuffs commenced.
- by John Macdonald on December 04, 2007 at 08:41 AM
It's sad to see that people like Rolan get so defensive about AFL. I can see why as AFL is only played in one country while Football, Rugby and League are played in more than one. Although I like AFL and have for years, Football is my number one sport ever since the A-League began. It's also disappointing that people like Rolan single out players diving, crowd violence etc. Sure let's not deny it there are players who dive. It's an unfortunate part of the game but isn't the one thing that defines Football. It will be stamped out and some point and there is less and less of it happening. Also crowd violence happens. I guess that is to be expected when 180+ countries have multiple divisions and each culture is different. Also if anything happens it is magnified. It's funny to hear people go on about the 'numerous' nil-nil draws. Sure they happen, doesn't mean they are all boring games though. I wouldn't say that they are numerous either. A scan through a Football results website i found one nil-nil result, yes that is right ONE nil-nil result from 81 games over 10 countries. Now is this just sheer luck or who do you believe a Football result website or the Australian Media with their anti-soccer views and propaganda. I'll let you decide. It would be interesting to see what Rolan thought of 'boring soccer' after watching Liverpool v Man Utd at Anfield or Old Trafford. He would see skillful players, fast interchanging passes, both sets of fans singing, tough tackling and few fouls.
- by Chris on April 14, 2008 at 01:14 PM
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Excellent article on the future growth for Australian Football beyond our shores and the links we have with the states- long may it continue!
But from a regional perspective, we must aim to ensure that Australia becomes THE Football force within Asia - or all these other pleasant little distractions will mean nothing if we don't qualify for World Cup Finals Tournaments or our A-League Clubs fail to do well in the Asian Champions League!