The Queensland government has entered a significant partnership with the Bundesliga, one of Europe’s premier football leagues, to enhance local football and bring high-profile events to the state. This memorandum of understanding was signed on October 26, 2023, at Perry Park, with plans to host training camps, assist grassroots clubs, and facilitate pathways for young Australian players to join professional teams in Germany. The agreement also includes the staging of exhibition matches in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell signed the deal alongside Craig Davidson, the chief executive of Tourism and Events Queensland, Kevin Sim, head of Bundesliga Asia-Pacific, and Suresh Letchmanan, managing director of Borussia Dortmund in Asia-Pacific. The collaboration is expected to have a substantial impact on Queensland, with talks underway for a potential exhibition match between Borussia Dortmund and the cult club St Pauli, which features Australian player Jackson Irvine, possibly taking place in Brisbane as early as next year.
“The world’s focus is going to be on Queensland for the next decade or more,” Powell stated. “When an organization of that scale wants to come to Queensland, there are going to be huge benefits for the state.”
Long-Term Commitment to Football Development
While the Bundesliga aims to bring significant matches to Brisbane, Sim emphasized the league’s broader interest in fostering a sustainable football environment in Australia. “It opens up Australia as a market, but that is not the only objective,” he said. “Our goal is a long-term objective, where we can use football to connect Australia and Germany—bilateral relations, but also economic trade and tourism.”
Unlike some European leagues considering competitive matches abroad, Sim noted that the Bundesliga intends to collaborate with local stakeholders such as Football Australia and the A-League. “We’d much rather work together with local stakeholders to develop the game on a slightly more sustainable basis than necessarily bring a league game,” he explained.
Paul Lambert, a former Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund and the club’s current technical director, highlighted the benefits this partnership could bring to grassroots football in Queensland. After spending nearly a year in the region, Lambert observed significant improvements in both players and coaches. “The kids are getting better, and coaches are getting better. There’s a long process, and it’s really good to be here,” he stated.
Expanding Opportunities Beyond Brisbane
Letchmanan mentioned that Dortmund’s relationship with Wynnum Wolves has paved the way for the Bundesliga’s MOU with Queensland. “Everyone thinks Australia is far away, but there have been great opportunities for us,” he said. “We want to build something; we want to build momentum, build a sustainable model here—not just to leave a legacy for the club, but also for the youth.”
The partnership aims to cover various aspects, including coaching education, youth development, and initiatives to increase the league’s presence in Australian sports culture. Letchmanan stressed that this is not a temporary arrangement. “We’re not a fly-by-night club that we’re just going to come here, take the cheque, and leave Australia,” he added.
Powell further indicated that discussions are ongoing with Football Australia to potentially host a friendly match for the Socceroos during the FIFA window in November 2023, serving as a warm-up for the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The collaboration between the Queensland government and the Bundesliga promises not only to enhance local football development but also to attract international attention to the state as it prepares for future global sporting events.
