Six of the Best: Why Perth Is Australia’s Sporting Capital This Winter

Another summer is gone, and the cricket gear has been stowed away for the year. But as the weather changes, it’s time to look forward to a full program of winter sports events – and this year, Perth is the place to see it all. The city is hosting its most exciting sports schedule in years, with something for every kind of fan – and it makes a great excuse to head to dreamy Western Australia for an extended holiday.

In June, the biggest event in rugby league, the State of Origin, comes to Perth for the first time in three years – but that’s nothing. It’s been 12 years since the British & Irish Lions rugby team toured Australia, and they’ll take on local heroes the Western Force. There’s also international soccer, a much-loved adventure river event, an entire AFL season (plus a special tour for North Melbourne), and the All Blacks come to town.

This is our pick of the highlights from Perth’s winter sports calendar.

Subway Socceroos vs Japan

Australia’s game against Japan at Perth Stadium is likely to be crucial to the Subway Socceroos’ chances of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26TM in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Japan, consistently one of Asia’s strongest teams, will present a stern challenge to coach Tony Popovic and the Australian side – though an impressive 1-1 draw in Saitama in the away fixture in October 2024 will give Aussie fans confidence. The Subway Socceroos will look for big games from senior players such as Craig Goodwin, Martin Boyle and Cam Burgess, while Japan may field English Premier League-based stars such as Wataru Endō and Takehiro Tomiyasu. The match is the Subway Socceroos’ final home game in Round Three of the Asian Football Confederation Asian Qualifiers, and is their first game in Perth since a 5-0 win over Palestine in June 2024. June 5; tickets available via Ticketmaster

State of Origin

State of Origin needs no introduction to even the most casual sports follower in Australia. Known as “rugby league’s ultimate test” by some NRL fans, the three-game series is arguably the most hyped and anticipated event on the national sporting calendar – and this year it comes to Optus Stadium in Perth for Game II. When the best of NSW plays the best of Queensland, it’s invariably a tightly contested affair, with unrelenting tension, and decided in the final minutes – so fans who make the pilgrimage to Western Australia are almost certainly in for an enthralling evening. This year, NSW will have a new (but returning) coach in Laurie Daley, who will call on superstars such as Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, while Queensland, under coach Billy Slater, will rely on the likes of Reece Walsh, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Port Hedland-born Kalyn Ponga. June 18; tickets available via Ticketmaster

Western Force vs British & Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is regarded as one of the great concepts of global sport – one that has provided some of the most memorable moments in the history of rugby union. Every four years, a selection of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales embark on a tour that alternates between southern hemisphere nations New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The Lions play three test matches against the home country’s national team, as well as matches against club or provincial sides. The Lions haven’t toured in Australia since 2013 and won’t again until 2037 – so this game against local Super Rugby outfit Western Force is a genuinely rare opportunity. This match at Optus Stadium is the Lions’ first game of the tour, so those lucky enough to be there will be the first to see the stars from the north on Australian soil. June 28; tickets available via Ticketmaster

Avon Descent

The Avon Descent is a two-day whitewater event for both paddle craft and small powerboats. Attracting hundreds of competitors from far and wide, the race begins in the town of Northam, about an 80-minute drive from Perth, and ends in the Perth suburb of Bayswater. For competitors, the journey is a gruelling affair with hundreds of kilometres to cover and many whitewater obstacles to negotiate. For spectators, the Avon Descent makes for a dreamy daytrip out to some of the most picturesque scenery around Perth, enjoying the sight of a veritable flotilla of watercraft as they power and paddle down the Avon River. August 9–10; find more information and register at avondescent.com.au

Wallabies vs All Blacks

It’s not strictly winter, but Perth’s feast of sport over the cooler months wraps up with a truly special occasion: the year’s second Bledisloe Cup match between Australia and New Zealand. It is a staggering statistic that the Wallabies haven’t held this coveted trophy since 2003, consistently unable to overcome the All Blacks in what is now a two-match series that is also part of the Rugby Championship. It’ll be the end of a very long season for the Wallabies, having taken on the Lions as well this winter, but hope springs eternal that this could finally be the year they turn the tables on their rivals from across the Tasman. Interesting fact: the Bledisloe Cup trophy is absolutely huge, the biggest in world rugby, and in 2021 the victorious All Blacks players filled it with 52 bottles of Steinlager. October 4; tickets available via Ticketmaster

2025 AFL season

Optus Stadium is home to both the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers, so chances are high you’ll catch a game on any given winter weekend. If you can, earmark July 26 – that's when the two Western Australian teams go head-to-head in a fierce local derby. Both the Eagles and the Dockers missed the finals in 2024, so each is out to prove something in 2025. Meanwhile, the North Melbourne Kangaroos are heading west for two special matches over consecutive weekends in June. They’ll play West Coast in Bunbury on Sunday June 8 before heading to Perth on Saturday June 14, to take on the Dockers. It’s a great excuse for footy fans to explore the sights – from the waterside pubs and eateries of Bunbury to the iconic sands of Cottesloe Beach. The 2025 AFL season is underway; find upcoming Perth fixtures via optusstadium.com.au and get tickets to see the Kangaroos at nmfc.com.au

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.