Football Australia seeking major funding boost to ensure World Cup legacy

MELBOURNE : Australian government officials have scrambled to link themselves to the Matildas' run to a maiden Women's World Cup semi-finals.

Now they will need to make major investments to cater to an expected spike in grassroots participation inspired by the co-hosts' performance.

"I don't want to put numbers on the table but the gap that we've got - we need hundreds of millions of dollars," Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson told Reuters in an interview on Friday.

FA project that community soccer participation could leap 20 per cent in coming years, putting a huge strain on infrastructure. Many existing facilities are not fit for purpose, lacking separate changing rooms for women.

The government ploughed some A$88 million ($56 million) into hosting the World Cup, building the Matildas a new training base in Melbourne and contributing to grassroots programmes.

Johnson said the Matildas had enjoyed great support from the federal government, which had shown on field.

But the funding is set to end this year.

After Australia's 3-1 defeat to England on Wednesday, captain Sam Kerr called for more funding to ensure the World Cup is more than just a sugar rush for a sport that struggles in a market dominated by Australian Rules football and rugby league.

"Football (soccer) is the biggest participation sport in the country and this challenge is only going to get bigger post-Women's World Cup," said Johnson.

"There are many stories around the game where clubs are turning away parents who want (their kids) to play football.

"There is urgency about tackling this."

Johnson said FA were impressed by the "ripple effects" for English soccer caused by the Lionesses' run to the Euro 22 title.

In March, the British government pledged 600