GEELONG, Australia -- Football Australia executive director of football Heather Garriock has spoken in favour of the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) draft plans for a new Nations League competition, telling ESPN the initial details presented to the federation were "very positive."
As first reported by ESPN, the AFC presented a proposal for a new, biennial Nations League to associations on Tuesday, introducing a new trophy to the region and, more significantly, incorporating Asian Cup and World Cup qualification into the competition.
Intended to be launched post-2030 World Cup, the draft plans -- which are still subject to change and approval -- would see the confederation's participants split into three tiers linked via promotion and relegation, with 18 nations each in the top tiers and eleven nations sorted into three groups in tier three.
In Asian Cup-associated iterations, it would effectively replace the second phase of AFC World Cup qualification, with the 18 nations in the first tier automatically earning a spot in the continental showpiece, alongside the six highest-placed finishers in the second tier following three home and three away fixtures. Second-tier nations' World Cup hopes would depend on their ability to secure promotion during this stage.
In World Cup-aligned editions, the first tier would replace the AFC's existing third phase of qualification, with its top six finishers after six home and six away fixtures automatically qualifying for the World Cup. The nations ranked seventh through tenth would then stage a playoff for two further qualification slots, with the third-ranked side from that series moving into an intercontinental playoff.
READ: AFC to introduce Nations League in shake-up of World Cup, Asian Cup qualification
"We obviously need to speak to the team; it only came about last night in a meeting. But it doesn't start until 2030, which gives us plenty of time," Garriock told ESPN when asked for her impression of the proposal. "But look, I think it's a great concept.
"There are different other elements that we obviously know internally that are going to help our federation out immensely from an AFC, ASEAN, and AFF point of view as well. But look, they're doing it overseas, and I think it's going to be a good competition, a strong competition.
"I think we are in favour. It's more about the detail that now needs to come across our desk, which, the detail that we do have at the moment is very positive."
Australia was one of only two Asian nations to progress to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, losing on penalties to Egypt and joining Japan in being eliminated in the Round of 32.
After ending its 32-year World Cup absence while a member of Oceania in 2005, the Socceroos joined the AFC the following year and have qualified for every tournament since, setting a record in the 2022 qualifiers when they rattled off 11 straight wins across the second and third phases.
And the executive director of football identified the chance for Australia's men to play more frequent fixtures against Asia's best, assuming they secured tier one status during a planned 2028-29 pilot, as one of the proposal's strengths.
"For us, the other thing is the competition," she said. "Having quality competition, Asian competition, as opposed to having matches that sometimes aren't as good competition.
"Playing against the top nations in Asia within the format."
Garriock was in Geelong for the announcement that Australia's senior women would face Colombia at Kardinia Park on December 2, as part of their preparations for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
"What was important for us when Joe Montemurro came in as coach was to make sure we planned our runway to Brazil 2027," she said. "Therefore, we've already got our windows planned, both overseas and domestically.