THE A-League is expected to be announced as the 35th member of the World Leagues Forum early next week, in another sure sign it is about to become independent of Football Federation Australia.

The steering group of the World Leagues Forum will meet in Dusseldorf, Germany on Tuesday and is expected to ratify the A-League’s membership.

If successful, Australia’s premier soccer competition will join key member leagues from UEFA including the English premier league, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1.

All these leagues are independent from their respective federations and are expected to give the A-League massive insights into running a successful independent competition and help its break away from the FFA.

FIFA is currently putting pressure on FFA to increase its congress so more stakeholders can have their say in how the game is governed in Australia, putting further pressure on A-League representatives to fast track the move to independence.

Independence would mean the A-League would be in control of its own destiny but still be a member of the FIFA family.

A source close to the A-League clubs confirmed the wheels are in motion for the A-League to become a member of the World Leagues Forum.

The World League Forum (Association of Professional Football Leagues) is chaired by Richard Scudamore, who is also the executive chairman of the English premier league.

He is joined on the management group by Christian Seifert, chief executive of German’s Bundesliga and Enrique Bonilla, executive chairman of Mexico’s Liga MX.

The organisation which was started in 2016 represents professional football leagues in the international governance of the game and like FIFA is under Swiss Law with its headquarters in Zurich.

It’s key objectives include improving the global governance of football, represent national leagues in international political and sporting arenas and to have co-operation between members and to boost development.

Currently 34 member leagues represent about 1100 clubs.

FFA has been contacted for comment.