Massive boost for the Matildas as FIFA makes big change to their Women’s World Cup opening match
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Big boost for Sam Kerr’s Matildas as FIFA makes a big change to their opening game of the Women’s World Cup in Sydney, and now it’s sure to be a record-breaking game.
- FIFA changes venue for Australia’s opening match
- The great demand of the followers led to the change.
- The Aussies will take on the Republic of Ireland to kick off the tournament
Australia could launch its Women’s World Cup campaign in front of more than 80,000 fans after FIFA responded to the huge demand to see Sam Kerr’s Matildas by moving its opening match against the Republic of Ireland to Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
With New Zealand also kicking off the Trans-Tasman tournament at Auckland’s Eden Park, more than 100,000 people are expected to attend the opening day of the World Cup.
“FIFA’s mission is to host the biggest and best Women’s World Cup in history this year, and the fans – those who bring colour, passion and atmosphere to the stadiums – will be an integral part of the tournament’s success,” said the FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. her when announcing the decision.
A groundswell of support for superstar Sam Kerr and his fellow Matildas has prompted FIFA to move their World Cup opening match to Homebush, where up to 100,000 fans can attend.
The change means Matildas’ record crowd of 36,109 is sure to be broken (Sam Kerr pictured with a fan after the game against Thailand last November)
“We have made a decision that will allow more than 100,000 fans to attend the opening day, providing more opportunities for fans to take part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup as it kicks off a month of football we will never forget.”
Accor Stadium’s capacity of 82,000 is almost double that of Allianz Stadium and the change is a response to the growing demand to watch the tie.
If more than 80,000 attended, it would be a record for a stand-alone Women’s World Cup match, surpassed only by the 90,185 who watched the 1999 final and the third-place match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, USA.
It would also put the match in the top 10 attendees for a women’s match anywhere.
The Matildas will move on to clashes with Nigeria and Canada after starting the tournament playing against the Republic of Ireland
The record for any women’s match outside of Europe and North America is 70,454, at the Maracana in Brazil for the 2016 Olympic Games semi-final, and the largest crowd for Matildas was 36,109, a mark sure to fall. given the change of venue and level of interest. from supporters
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson was overjoyed by the news from FIFA.
“This move, which Football Australia strongly championed, fully aligns with our positioning of the Matildas as one of our two iconic national teams and one of Australia’s most beloved sporting teams,” he said.
The Australians’ first match at the World Cup could also break the world attendance record for a women’s soccer match now that it is being played in Homebush
“It will ensure that more people can now be a part of CommBank Matildas’ opening match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The kick-off time and date for the Australia v Republic of Ireland match remains Thursday, July 20 at 8pm AEST.
New Zealand receives Norway a few hours before.
Tickets that have already been purchased for the Australia v Ireland game remain valid, but many more will go on sale from noon AEDT on Friday 24 February.
The Matildas will face Nigeria at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on July 27 and Olympic champions Canada at Melbourne’s AAMI Park on July 31 in their other two group matches.