NSW and Queensland stadia install mural and statue to acknowledge Matildas' success

In recognition of the Matildas’ historic success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Stadium Australia will install a new mural commissioned by the NSW Government while Suncorp Stadium will install a statue supported and coordinated by the Queensland Government.

The Queensland Government announced this week that it was supporting and coordinating the installation of a statue at Suncorp Stadium to mark the success of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, and to recognise the enormous impact their success will have in inspiring women and girls.

The Queensland Government will work with Football Australia on the design and recognition of the team to ensure the statue depicts the success of the Matilda’s now and into the future.

Queensland Minster for Women, Shannon Fentiman shared “the Matildas have had an incredible impact on and off the field and what better way to acknowledge their achievements. You can’t be what you can’t see, and these sportswomen have made huge strides for women’s football and for gender equality more broadly. We want young girls and boys to have a permanent reminder as they enter the stadium that girls can do and be anything.”

Meanwhile, Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) will be installing a permanent mural on the external façade of the eastern side of Accor Stadium, closest to Olympic Park train station.

It aims to capture some of the Matildas’ greatest moments during the tournament and will serve as a permanent reminder of how the Matildas’ run at this World Cup captured the imagination of the nation and inspired the next generation of female athletes.

The project will be delivered by Venues NSW, which manages State’s major sporting and entertainment venues in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Venues NSW will work with the advisory team that brought the Allianz Stadium public art project to life, overseeing a tender process in line with NSW Government procurement requirements.

The mural will be funded from an existing Budget allocation.

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper noted “the achievements of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will live on not only in our memories but also at Stadium Australia where they created history.

“It will be a daily reminder to the 10 million people who visit Sydney Olympic Park each year of the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in history and how the whole nation got behind the Matildas.”

“We look forward to delivering more for women’s sport as part of our September budget.”

Image top: Suncorp Stadium fans celebrate Matildas going forward into Semi Finals at FIFA Womens World Cup 2023. Credit: Suncorp Stadium; image above: Fans at Accor Stadium