Football Victoria and Football Australia proudly collaborated recently to provide new migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities the opportunity attend some of the football calendar's biggest games.
At the 2021 FFA Cup Final and the Asian World Cup Qualifier between Australia and Vietnam - both held in Melbourne - Miniroos and their families were invited to attend the games with their families and friends.
The Miniroos who took part in the initiative were either recent migrants or come from CALD communities, with most having never had the opportunity to attend a live football event in Australia. Participants included those from Australia's Afghan community, South Sudanese community and other CALD communities.
A particular highlight for the participants was the invitation to play in a half-time exhibition match at the FFA Cup Final between Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners.
The exhibition was a raging success with players having the chance to play the game they love in front of thousands of passionate fans from both A-League Men's Clubs.
The initiative was created as a way to use football as a vehicle to help people assimilate into the wider community and also to inspire the Miniroos to follow their dreams, whether football related or not.
The experience many of the participants had will create a lifelong memory and Football Victoria is extremely pleased to have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from many of the player's parents and families about their experiences.
