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Canberra United's future is finally secured after two years of constant uncertainty.

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And the A-League Women team's new owners have committed to joining the A-League Men competition in 2028-29.

Canberra United has been saved with the Australian Sports Group taking over the club. Pictures by Keegan Carroll, Karleen Minney and LinkedIn

The Canberra Times can reveal Canberra United has a private owner for the first time, with Australian Sports Group buying the licence this week.

Capital Football has run United since its inception in 2008, but the cost of running the team became too great for the soccer federation to bear.

Last season was Capital Football's final one in charge, with the future of the ALW club up in the air until a new owner could be found.

The A-Leagues will announce ASG as Canberra United's saviour on Friday, ensuring the ALW club's participation in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The season will kick off on October 16 with the draw released next month.

Part of ASG's deal with the Australian Professional Leagues, who run the A-League, is they have an option to introduce a men's team following that.

It's unclear why it will take until 2028-29 for the men's team to come in, with all previous indications pointing towards them joining the A-League the season after the new owners took over Canberra United.

Both parties will spend the next few months going through all the regulatory checks to make that happen, including a "fit and proper persons" check with Football Australia.

There wasn't time to do those checks in time for United to play in the upcoming summer so the focus was switched to ensuring the women's team's survival first.

But ASG chief executive Theo Fotopoulos has committed to creating a men's team as well.

Morris McAlister is the ASG chairman.

"Canberra is home to a thriving football community - a huge participant and passionate supporter base who have made Canberra United one of the most strongly supported A-League Women teams for the last 18 years," Fotopoulos said.

"We're thrilled to be leading the next generation of professional football in Canberra, taking on the ownership of the Canberra United women's team with a renewed focus on growth and investment, and progressing towards an integrated professional club with the introduction of an A-League Men's team in season 2028-29."

Fotopoulos also committed to re-establishing Canberra's academy pathways, after Capital Football controversially axed United's academy three years ago.

He also wants to invest in soccer infrastructure in the capital.

"We're excited to be part of growing the A-Leagues and building a strong club focused on community engagement, football excellence, commercial growth, new infrastructure and strengthening the football development pathways for boys and girls in the territory and the capital region," Fotopoulos said.

"Following a competitive process, we're excited to announce the Australian Sports Group as the new owner of Canberra United - securing the future of the women's team and establishing a pathway to introduce a new A-League Men's team in Canberra," he said.

"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."

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