The Australian Football Domestic Match Calendar for 2023/24 (DMC 2023/24) has been released, with Football Australia today outlining the key dates for elite men’s and women’s football competitions, as well as transfer and registration windows, for the period from 8 October 2023 to 5 October 2024.
Designed and implemented to align the game and harmonise Australia with key international football events and activities, the DMC 2023/24 provides clear windows for matches from the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women, Australia Cup, National Premier Leagues (NPL) and the new National Second Tier to be played, enabling administrators and teams to progress their planning for Australian football leagues and competitions accordingly.
Following extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Australian Professional Leagues (APL), Football Australia via the DMC 2023/24 has regulated that FIFA international windows for men’s and women’s football will be observed throughout 2023/24, with A-League Men’s and Women’s competitions to pause while the respective Australian senior national teams are in action, with the exception of the rescheduled AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, explained that the DMC 2023/24 is an important tool for Australian football, and one that serves to unite and align the game through a connected pyramid.
“With the Domestic Match Calendar 2023/24 now finalised, staff at Member Federations, the Australian Professional Leagues, and Football Australia, as well as clubs within the Australian football ecosystem, can more thoroughly plan their activities for the period from 8 October 2023 to 5 October 2024,” Johnson said.
“Our national teams have another busy 12 months ahead with FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers commencing later this year, the staging of the rescheduled AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January plus Olympic Qualifiers for both our CommBank Matildas and Subway Olyroos ahead of Paris 2024™, meaning it’s crucial for our best domestic-based players to be available for these fixtures and tournaments.
“We are currently in a golden window for Australian football which started with the Subway Socceroos’ outstanding showing at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year and continues this month with Australia co-hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup. There has never been a more important time for our game to be united and aligned, allowing it to seize upon the increased interest and best maximise opportunities to engage fans, audiences, and the commercial sector.
“With so much activity occurring at a local and international level, the development of the Domestic Match Calendar isn’t an easy task, however, it’s an important piece of work which was achieved through the ongoing collaboration between stakeholders from across the game,” Johnson concluded.
Key dates/features of the DMC 2023/24 include:
- Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s 2023/24 Regular Season to commence from Friday, 20 October 2023, with the 2023/24 Grand Final to be contested in May 2024
- Liberty A-League Women’s 2023/24 Regular Season to commence from Friday, 13 October 2023, with the 2023/24 Grand Final to be contested in May 2024
- Final match of the DMC 2023/24 to feature the 2023 Australia Cup Final with a date TBC
- National Premier Leagues 2024 Seasons – both men’s and women’s – to commence from Friday, 2 February 2024 (men’s) and conclude by Sunday, 8 September 2024
- Placeholder between March 2024 and October 2024 for the commencement of the National Second Tier competition (men’s)
- Player welfare windows included in both men’s and women’s calendars to ensure players can obtain rest/take annual leave between seasons/elite football commitments
CLICK HERE – to view the Australian Football Domestic Match Calendar for 2023/24.
