This week Football Federation Australia formally published a new Strategic Plan for the period of 2011 to 2015 with a vision for Australia to become a Top 10 football nation.
The ambitious target goes way beyond the current FIFA Ranking of the Socceroos, which is currently 20, and FFA chief Ben Buckley pointed out some goals and targets for this to eventuate.
- Development of a football culture ingrained with unique Australian characteristics. - Producing technically-gifted Australian players from an elite player pathway that's the equal of the world's best. - Building a Hyundai A-League that rivals the best in Asia. - Making football a sporting and social powerhouse in Australia.
And the targets of Football Australia are as follows:
- Qantas Socceroos qualifying for Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup and reaching the round of 16 as a minimum. - Winning the 2015 AFC Asian Cup on home soil - The Socceroos contesting for a Top 10 spot on the FIFA Rankings by 2015 and averaging a Top 20 spot across the period. - In the women's national team program, we aim to see the Westfield Matildas successfully defend the AFC Women's Asian Cup, once again qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in and hold a Top 10 ranking, which we have currently achieved at no.10.
