We get sporting ‘crumbs’ of QLD

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 2, 2026

New South Wales has faced criticism for losing several major sporting events to Queensland and other states, including high-profile soccer friendlies and the inaugural Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup test. Despite these setbacks, New South Wales argues it will still host a range of significant events such as three world cups and major concerts, highlighting the ongoing competition among states for lucrative sporting and entertainment fixtures.

New South Wales is facing criticism for missing out on several major sporting events, with opposition figures accusing the state of being sidelined in favor of Queensland and other regions. Queensland is set to host two high-profile soccer friendlies between the Socceroos and five-time World Cup winners Brazil in September. These matches will take place in Townsville and Brisbane, drawing crowds of around 25,000 and 55,000 respectively—figures notably smaller than the capacity of Sydney’s Accor Stadium, which seats over 80,000.

In addition to the soccer fixtures, Brisbane will also host the inaugural Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup test next year, further limiting Sydney’s opportunities to witness these marquee international events. The state’s recent misses also include the first regular season NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers, which is scheduled to be played in Melbourne this September.

Liberal sport spokeswoman Natalie Ward expressed disappointment over the situation, labeling New South Wales as the “poor cousin” in terms of hosting Australia’s major sporting events. Ward argued that the state is only receiving “crumbs” in comparison to the more significant opportunities secured by other states.

Responding to these criticisms, New South Wales Sports and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper contended that the events taking place in Queensland are comparatively minor. Kamper pointed out that the friendly matches in Townsville are being held in a relatively small venue, and highlighted that New South Wales will host a variety of major events over the next several months, including three world cups as well as concerts by internationally renowned artists Harry Styles and BTS. He suggested that it is not possible for the state to secure every major event.

This debate reflects ongoing competition among Australian states to attract prominent sporting and entertainment events, which are seen as drivers of tourism and regional economic activity. While Queensland continues to secure notable fixtures, New South Wales maintains that it still holds a significant share of upcoming major events, despite recent losses.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.