Socceroos star Jackson Irvine and Matildas stalwart Tameka Yallop have urged Australian football to capitalise on the opportunity created by major tournaments over the next year.
The Matildas will start among the favourites at next March's Women's Asian Cup on home soil, while the Socceroos have already qualified for the men's World Cup that kicks off in June 2026.
The best of Australian football will be in the spotlight, delivering a golden opportunity to attract more fans, participants and interest.
But players have lamented both Football Australia and the Australian Professional Leagues failing to fully capitalise on the Socceroos' golden World Cup run in 2022 and the Matildas' success on home soil in 2023.
The A-Leagues have struggled in terms of crowds and broadcast figures, with the demise of Western United a low point.
Irvine and Yallop have been reappointed to FIFPRO's global player council and called on Australia to make the most of football's time in the sun.
"The players have big ambitions for Australian football and we know the game has massive potential," Irvine said in a statement.
"However, the collapse of Western United and the ongoing uncertainty around the A-League shows there are massive challenges that need urgent attention in the professional game.
"The next 12 months where we will host the Women's Asian Cup and appear at a sixth successive men's World Cup presents enormous opportunity.
"We must capitalise on these moments to deliver a stronger game."
Former Sydney FC star Cortnee Vine previously lamented the A-Leagues' failure to fully capitalise on the 2023 Women's World Cup.
Research commissioned by FIFPRO Asia/Oceania identified the upcoming Women's Asian Cup as having "substantial commercial potential", especially given increasing fan interest in women's football in the region.
It noted there was no clear 'Tier 1' women's league to serve that market.
Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) have consistently called for the semi-professional A-League Women to be fully professionalised.
"Through the Matildas I have seen the potential of Australian football," Yallop said.
"The opportunity of hosting the Women's Asian Cup must not slip through our fingers.
"It has to be harnessed to deliver a transformed women's game in Australia where full-time professionalism and elite standards across all areas are embedded."
The PFA's research, conducted by Gemba, centred around converting casual fans to fanatics, to bring in additional ticketing and broadcast revenue to help the leagues.
"The players are determined to secure the future of the professional game," FIFPRO Asia/Pacific president and PFA chief executive Beau Busch said.
"Doing so in the world's toughest sports market is not an easy task, but our research has given us clarity around the key challenges the A-League is facing, and confidence as to its underlying potential.
"We believe the game can build a better future through a reformed governance model, a rebuilt football economy, effective and authentic fan engagement, and outstanding match day infrastructure.
"To secure the game's future we must deeply understand the game's problems and commit to maximising our strengths and the opportunities before us."
