Participation across northern NSW is expected to spike next season on the back of the Socceroos’ historic appearance in the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
Australia advanced to the round of 16 for the second time in its history, and first time since 2006, in the early hours of Thursday morning after downing world No.10 Denmark 1-0 in their final group D match.
That victory saw the Socceroos finish second in group D, level on points with reigning world champions and world No.4 France.
Australia will now play arguably the biggest match in its men’s football history when they take on world No.3 and reigning Copa America champions Argentina at 6am on Sunday morning.
As well as a place in the quarter finals on the line, which Australia have never reached, the match will give the Socceroos the chance to take on seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi in potentially his last World Cup.
Live Site
Newcastle lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes confirmed to the Newcastle Herald that a public viewing site was being organised for the Australia-Argentina round of 16 game to be shown live on Sunday morning.
The match will be broadcast live on a big screen at Wheeler Place, the public space next to Civic Theatre.
The match will be live on free to air television through SBS.
Good for the Game
The Socceroos reaching the round of 16 is also likely to provide a spike to registration numbers across northern NSW next season.
The number of registered players in northern NSW soared by eight per cent, more than 3,500 players, in 2007 after Australia reached the round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Germany.
NNSWF has taken full advantage of the hype surrounding the Socceroos’ participation in their fifth consecutive FIFA Men’s World Cup, with the governing body independently conducting 11 Newcastle Permanent School Gala Days during the tournament. These gala days involved 2,600 students playing for 450 teams representing 81 schools across northern NSW.
The gala days have been a huge success, providing girls and boys an opportunity to experience the world’s biggest game.
The gala days have also been complemented by a series of come and try days for new players.
NNSWF Head of Football Development Peter Haynes said it was an exciting time for football in the region.
“These are the times you dream about as a football person,” Haynes said.
“You can feel the excitement throughout the football community around the Socceroos. Not many people gave them a chance to even qualify let alone make it out of an extremely tough group. I know the football community is proud of them.
“Congratulations to Newcastle City Council for putting on the live site. It shows great support of football and gives people the chance to get together to share what could be a once-in-a-lifetime moment on Sunday morning. If Australia win, it will be one of the great Australian sporting moments where people ask ‘where were you’ when it happened.
“We saw on the back of the 2006 World Cup a huge spike in participation and we believe the same will happen again. We’ve used the World Cup to drive participation and registrations for 2023 and it has been great to see the NNSWF team doing what it does best out in the community.
“And with the Women’s World Cup here in Australia and New Zealand next year, it really is one of the most exciting times for football in our history.”
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