Football Australia has released the Domestic Match Calendar for 2024/25 (DMC 2024/25), outlining the key dates for elite men's and women's football competitions, as well as transfer and registration windows for the period 6 October 2024 - 4 October 2025.
The DMC 2024/25 has been designed to unite all levels of the game in Australia and harmonise with key international football events. It also provides clear windows for matches from the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women, Australia Cup, and National Premier Leagues, allowing administrators and teams to plan their activities for Australian football leagues and competitions accordingly.
Through ongoing and extensive consultation with key stakeholders including the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Member Federations, Football Australia has ensured that FIFA international windows for men's and women's football will be observed throughout 2024/25.
An important exemption in the DMC 2024/25 will see the A-League Women's season play through the FIFA November/ December women's international window, with the CommBank Matildas playing in Australia. This exemption ensures that domestic-based national team players have a break following the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024™ prior to the A-League Women's season commencing.
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, explained that the DMC 2024/25 is an important tool for Australian football, and one that unites and aligns the game through a connected pyramid.
"With the Domestic Match Calendar 2024/25 now finalised, Member Federations, the Australian Professional Leagues, and Football Australia, as well as clubs within the Australian football ecosystem can continue to thoroughly plan their activities for the next season," Johnson said.
"Pausing the A-Leagues during FIFA international windows and ensuring players have annual rest periods between seasons continues to support players selected for national team representation. Our best players are available to represent their club and country without clashes and have the chance to increase match minutes year by year, enabling them to progress their careers.
"Our national teams will have many important matches in the next 12 months, starting with the CommBank Matildas at the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games, CommBank Young Matildas contesting the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™ in Colombia during August, Subway Socceroos progressing towards the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with Round 3 qualifying matches, along with our Subway Young Socceroos and Joeys both having their AFC Asian Cup™ Qualifiers in September and October respectively.
"When our national teams play, especially at home, it's vital that all members of our football community have the opportunity to attend, so managing all levels of football through this calendar is crucial to supporting and growing our game.
"A key addition captured in the Domestic Match Calendar is the participation of Melbourne City in the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League™, where they will fly the flag for our clubs in Asian women's football for the first time," Johnson concluded.
Key dates/features of the DMC 2024/25 include:
- Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 Regular Season to commence from Friday, 18 October with the 2025 Grand Final to be contested in late May/by the weekend of Friday 30 May - Sunday 1 June 2025
- Liberty A-League Women 2024/25 Regular Season to commence from 1 November 2024, with the 2025 Grand Final to be contested by the weekend of Friday, 23 May - Sunday, 25 May 2025
- Final match of the DMC 2024/25 to feature the Australia Cup 2025 Final (date TBC)
- National Premier Leagues 2025 Seasons - both men's and women's - to commence from Friday, 7 February 2025 and conclude by Sunday, 14 September 2025
- 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 2024/25.
