Massive interest in Matildas FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final drives live sites across the nation

In advance of their semi-final clash with England this evening, unprecedented interest in the progress of the Matildas in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is seeing venues across the country open up as live sites to let fans come together to watch the fixture.

Extending way beyond the official FIFA Fan Festival sites, venues, clubs, areas of open space and other locations will be welcoming fans to watch the match on giant screens.

With the Matildas making history on Saturday night becoming the first Australian national football team, male or female, to advance to a World Cup semi-final, a sold out crowd will be at Sydney’s Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) for the match which kicks off at 8pm.

In Perth, in addition to the FIFA Fan Festival site in the city’s Forrest Place, FIFA Women's World Cup host venue Perth Rectangular Stadium (HBF Park) will again be welcoming fans.

Fans can watch the match on the two new super screens, installed as part of the $40 million venue upgrades for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook advised “the FIFA Fan Festival in Forrest Place has been going off, and we are opening up WA's own World Cup host venue tonight to ensure fans have the best local seats to watch the Matildas and hometown hero Sam Kerr in their World Cup semi-final.

"Bring a picnic blanket to sit on WA's World Cup pitch or take up a seat in one of the grandstands to share in another history-making night of women's football.”

Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman added “over 85,000 fans packed Perth Rectangular Stadium for five spectacular matches for the FIFA Women's World Cup and now local Matildas fans will have the opportunity to cheer on their team at Perth's premier football stadium.”

This development followed announcements on Sunday that 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, in addition to FIFA Fan Festival sites including Tumbalong Park in Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

In Far North Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and Football Queensland have partnered to set up a live viewing site at the Eastern Events Lawn on the Cairns Esplanade from 7.30pm.

Douglas Shire Council will also host two viewing sites, one at Dixie Park, near the Sugar Wharf, in Port Douglas and another at the Mossman Showgrounds.

Both venues will open at 7pm for an 8pm start.

Matildas’ fever will also see live viewing sites at local sports clubs, public parks, city squares and , skate centres, each welcoming an influx of fans with entertainment starting as early as 4pm with live music, face painting, food trucks and football related activities.

Current support for the Matildas represents a massive contrast to just nine years ago when they hosted Brazil for two matches at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane.

With the first match in the 2014 series attracting a crowd of just 2583 fans, the then Football Federation Australia opted to play the second game behind closed door as the lack of demand for tickets meant opening the venue for a few fans would have been too costly.

100,000 football and music fans expected at Sydney Olympic Park
In addition to football supporters at Sydney Olympic Park tonight, a further 20,000 fans are expected for a concert by Luke Combs at Qudos Bank Arena.

The NSW Government is encouraging ticketholders for each event to catch public transport and leave the car at home as significant traffic delays are expected during the already busy evening peak.

Images: FIFA Fan Festival site in Parramatta (top: credit: City of Parramatta) and a Matildas fan at Tumbalong Park at Sydney’s Darling Harbour (below, credit: Place Management NSW).