This essay examines the role of soccer in Australian popular life, emphasizing the game's position of secondary importance to rugby or Australian Rules in different regions. It draws on international comparisons with the USA or white British colonies to argue that in a uniquely multicultural country like Australia with established sporting traditions, domestic experience of the game could shape the past, present and future of soccer in the country. Given the cultural diversity of the state, it should work towards a strategic competitive advantage for the popularization of soccer in contemporary Australia
This is an electronic version of an article published Soccer and Society, Vol. 7(2/3), pp. 165-186. Soccer and Society is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=1466-0970&volume=7&issue=2/3&spage=165
Publication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal article