FIFA Women’s World Cup interest to see new live sites for historic Matildas semi-final

Interest in the Matildas’ record-breaking run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup will see major stadia in Melbourne and Sydney open as live sites for Wednesday’s semi-final against England.

In addition to FIFA Fan Festival sites that have already welcomed more than 500,000 fans, Western Sydney Stadium (CommBank Stadium) in Parramatta, the Sydney Football Stadium (Allianz Stadium) in Moore Park and the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park) will be opened as live sites.

With massive Australian interest in the tournament co-hosts matches, the live sites will offer fans unbale to secure tickets for the sold-out semi-final at Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) at Sydney Olympic Park the ability to watch the action in a crowd.

In addition to FIFA Fan Festival sites sited across host cities in Australia and New Zealand, Tumbalong Park in Sydney’s Darling Harbour - which has welcomed more than 202,000 attendees throughout the tournament - will also be showing the game live on a giant screen.

Stadium Australia had doubled as a live site for Australia’s quarter final clash with France on Saturday evening (played in Brisbane), while also hosting the quarter-final between Colombia and England.

However, with 80,000 fans to descend on Stadium Australia for the semi-final on Wednesday, the NSW Government feels it is not feasible for it to also host a live site.

Announcing the new live sites this afternoon, NSW Premier, Chris Minns stated “the reason we cannot do it again (at Stadium Australia) is because last night the two games were separated by a couple of hours so the Matildas crowd could come in at five o’clock even though it was an extended game (but) we can’t do that on the same night if you’re expecting 80,000 in the stadium and thousands outside as well.”

The NSW announcement came after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium would also welcome fans. The stadium - which has hosted six World Cup matches during the tournament - joins Melbourne’s Federation Square as one of that city’s two live sites for the match.

Premier Andrews wrote on social media “big game needs a bigger stadium. AAMI Park. Wednesday night. Be there.”

Premier Minns said Sydney will again light the sails of the Opera House and buildings across the CBD ahead of Wednesday’s game.

Enthusiasm for the Matildas achievement has seen Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suggest that he will declare a national public holiday if the team wins the World Cup.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 has sold 1.75 million tickets across the tournament’s 64 games.

Formerly called FIFA Fan Fests, FIFA Fan Festivals have been a regular feature of the FIFA World Cup since 2006. However, this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand has been the first time this experience has been offered in all host cities of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Since their inception, FIFA Fan Festivals have welcomed more than 40 million visitors across five continents.

The events show the matches live on big screens, while also offering music, entertainment, local culture, food and beverages, and fan activities.

Other live sites are expected to be announced in the coming days.

Images: Fans enjoy Saturday's FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter final clash between Australia and France at Sydney's Mrs Macquaries Point (top, credit: Arthur Stanley/VenuesLive) and FIFA Fan Festival site in Parramatta (below: credit: City of Parramatta).