Football Australia is pleased to announce that the 2024 National Youth Championships will be held in Melbourne and across Wollongong throughout the month of July.
Taking place over 12 days, this year's National Youth Championships will be held at the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University in Melbourne for the Under 15 and 16 Girls (3 - 8 July), and WIN Stadium, JJ Kelly Park and Ian McLennan Park in Wollongong for the Under 15 and 16 Boys (16 - 21 July).
The National Youth Championships are the flagship youth event in the Australian football calendar, with teams from Football Australia's nine State and Territory Member Federations competing not only to claim the coveted national title, but to impress attending national team technical staff.
Embedded within Football Australia's talent identification scheme, the National Youth Championships serves as a crucial stepping-stone for young players with many of today's CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos tracing their beginnings to the tournament.
Players like Jordan Bos (Football VIC), Ellie Carpenter (Football NSW) Caitlin Foord (Football NSW), Rhyan Grant (Football NSW), Sam Kerr (Football West), Harry Kewell (Football NSW), Mark Milligan (Football NSW), Lucas Neill (Football NSW), Hayley Raso (Football QLD) and Cortnee Vine (Football QLD) have all progressed through the National Youth Championships pathway just to name a few.
The Girls' tournament will feature up to 24 teams from across Australia, while the Boys' tournament will feature 32 teams from across Australia, an increase of six from last year's tournament.
The annual National Youth Championships not only provide an opportunity for aspiring young players to showcase their skills, but also coaches, officials and technical staff a chance to learn and grow in their respective fields.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson said: "We are very excited to once again hold the National Youth Championships and witness the rise of the next generation of Australian Football in both the Boys' and Girls' tournaments."
"The National Youth Championships are more than just a tournament; they are the pinnacle of youth competitions on the Australian football calendar. The National Youth Championships are renowned as the breeding grounds where future Subway Socceroos and CommBank Matildas are forged and nurtured, showcasing the bright future of Australian football.
"We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the NSW Government and Victorian Government for their ongoing support of Australian football and our elite pathways," Johnson concluded.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: "We're proud to support women's football, from grassroots to the elite, and look forward to hosting teams from around the country right here in Victoria - the sports capital of Australia."
"Events like this provide pathways for our star players of the future, and our investment in the Home of the Matildas will help bring out the best from our nation's young athletes."
The National Youth Championships will deliver strong economic benefits to the local economy, while competitors will experience some of New South Wales' best regional sporting facilities when the Illawarra hosts the Boys' event.
Destination Wollongong's General Manager Mark Sleigh said: "We are excited to welcome the nation's most talented up-and-coming footballers back to Wollongong, this time for the 2024 National Youth Championships Boys' tournament.
"A proven pathways event for junior players who will showcase Wollongong's premier football fields and seaside stadium. This six-day event will also have a significant economic boost to the visitor economy during our winter season."
2024 National Youth Championships - Girls
Venue: Home of the Matildas, Bundoora, Victoria
Dates: 3 - 8 July 2024
2024 National Youth Championships - Boys
Venues: WIN Stadium, JJ Kelly Park and Ian McLennan Park, Wollongong, NSW
Dates: 16 - 21 July 2024
Fixtures and further information will be communicated in the coming months.
