Matildas vs England Women’s Football World Cup: Australian fans pack pubs across the country as the nation prepares for the one of the biggest sporting events in our history

With tickets sold out for the biggest ever Matildas game, supporters are flocking to pubs, clubs and fan sites across Australia to hopefully cheer on a historic victory.

The football fanatics, and many who are new to supporting the Tillies, enjoy the camaraderie as Australia take on an old foe, the England Lionesses.

The game kicks off at 8pm Sydney time (6pm WA time), but revelers have had a few drinks to lubricate their lungs in preparation for shouting ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi ‘ this evening.

Although England are the favorites due to their higher position in world football, the Matildas have crucial home field advantage and the whole country is roaring at them.

There is also a matter of recent history to be reckoned with: the Tillies beat England 2-0 in April, ending the Lionesses’ 30-match unbeaten run.

Matildas fans pose for a photo ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England

Fans at the Sydney FIFA Fan Festival gather to watch the Matildas FIFA World Cup Semi-Final against England, on August 16, 2023

A young Australia fan, wearing a Matildas flag and an Australian scarf, enjoys the pre-match atmosphere

Australia fan holds a sign before the game against England at Stadium Australia in Sydney

On that rainy evening in West London, Australia’s most famous player, the talisman Sam Kerr, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute.

Kerr also set up Charlotte Grant’s goal in the 67th minute, helping the undersized – they missed out on several key players – to ensure Matildas victory.

“We have to take it with a grain of salt,” Kerr said at the time, wisely not overly confident.

“Obviously it’s a very big performance from us, we knocked out a lot of players. But unfortunately we won’t beat England tonight.

“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves.”

Matildas’ coach Tony Gustavsson also did not count his chickens based on one win in a friendly match.

“(England) has a lot of guns,” he said in April. “If you don’t defend as a team, you’re exposed, as we did a couple of times midway through the second half.

“We had a very, very clear plan of what to take away from England and we’ve done it often enough to win this game. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough.’

To get fans in the mood on Wednesday nights, all Merivale locations in Sydney are offering 49 percent off drinks from 6-8pm.

However, pubs and clubs in every town, borough and rural outpost will be showing the game, so there’s no shortage of venues to enjoy the fun with fellow supporters.

Sam Kerr (centre), Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley celebrate Australia’s victory via penalty shoot-out after the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final against France at Brisbane Stadium on 12 August 2023

Sam Kerr’s shirt on display in Australia’s dressing room ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final against England at Stadium Australia on 16 August 2023

A young girl has her Australian support painted on her face before the match against England

In Melbourne, the FIFA Fan Festival at Federation Square has attracted thousands of green and gold clad fanatics.

In Brisbane, there are three public sites showing the game, on South Bank, that can be held 12,000 fans, the Riverstage, which seats 9,000 people, and King George Square.

In Adelaide, Festival Plaza in the CBD has been transformed into a Fan Festival site where viewers can watch the match on the big screen while soaking up the atmosphere.

In Perth, fans have gathered at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, which requires no tickets.

The Matildas will also storm the huge screens of the Darwin Waterfront, which has a capacity of 3,000.

In Sydney, one of the best places to support the team is as you sit in the historic stands of North Sydney Oval and watch the game on the big screen.