Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Canberra United will remain in the A-League Women after Australian Sports Group assumed control of the club’s licence on Friday, July 17. The agreement ends two years of uncertainty and gives the new owner an exclusive option to launch a Canberra A-League Men team in 2028/29.

Australian Sports Group takes over from Capital Football, which had decided against continuing to fund the two-time A-League Women champions. The ACT government had helped keep Canberra United operating while the Australian Professional Leagues searched for a new owner.

Readers can see the latest England coaching reaction, while the official A-Leagues announcement confirms the licence transfer and men’s team option.

New Ownership Ends Long Wait

Canberra United are the only standalone women’s club in the A-Leagues and have represented the capital for 18 years. The ownership change protects their place in the national competition and opens a route towards one club fielding women’s and men’s teams.

Australian Sports Group chief executive Theo Fotopoulos said the consortium wanted to invest in the women’s program while working towards a men’s team. The plan puts Canberra back on an expansion timetable after earlier attempts to add a men’s side stalled.

APL Welcomes Canberra Agreement

“This is an exciting next step for professional football in the ACT and highlights the growth opportunity for the A-Leagues and football in Canberra,” Australian Professional Leagues chair Stephen Conroy said.

“We’d like to acknowledge the Canberra football community and the ACT government for their strong and ongoing support of Canberra United.”

The 2028/29 men’s entry remains an option rather than a confirmed launch. Australian Sports Group must now build the structure needed to run Canberra United and prepare a men’s program for the A-League Men.