Matildas bubble not burst yet, claims Asian Cup chief, as big venues approach sell-outs | OneFootball

Organisers of the Women’s Asian Cup feel vindicated in their decision to schedule Matildas matches in some of Australia’s biggest stadiums as the marquee International Women’s Day fixture against South Korea at Sydney’s Olympic stadium approaches a sell-out.

The Matildas became Australia’s favourite sporting team during the 2023 World Cup but a run of 16 home sell-outs ended last year, coinciding with the team’s on-field struggles that saw their ranking dip to No 16 in the world.

Football Australia has taken matches to secondary venues in 2025, including the 20,000-seat HBF Park in Perth, 17,000-capacity Cooper Stadium in Adelaide and even Hands Oval in Bunbury, which attracted 10,272 for the match against Panama in July.

But they will return to the nation’s premier venues for the continental showpiece beginning in March. Sarah Walsh, former Matilda and chief operating officer for the Women’s Asian Cup, said ticket sales have been strong even before major marketing campaigns begin in coming weeks.

“Some parts of the market have been waiting for this bubble to burst for the Matildas and it hasn’t happened yet,” she said. “It’s still a risky play because these decisions were made close to a year and a half ago. Ultimately, you’re making the assumption that the ride will continue for the Matildas, and it has.”

The Matildas’ third match is scheduled for Accor Stadium in Sydney on International Women’s Day, and Walsh predicts the initial ticket allocation will be exhausted in early December. That will leave only a final release, the size of which will be determined by how many partner tickets are returned.

Two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final will also be held at the same venue, which will seat close to 80,000 for the tournament.

Tickets are selling well for the Matildas’ opener at the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium in Perth on 1 March against the Philippines, while the side’s second match against Iran at the 27,000-seat stadium on the Gold Coast is already sold out.

“You have to balance things around costs and open bigger stadiums,” she said. “But I wouldn’t call it risk, I would say we’ve been bold in our decision making, and it’s paying off.”

Rather than diminish the value of the Matildas by sending them to places like Bunbury and Gosford, Walsh feels the recent schedule has helped keep more of the country’s football community engaged with the team.

The match against South Korea on International Women’s Day affords the Matildas a part of the national spotlight on a day celebrating women’s sporting success and wider achievements.

The team has a record of campaigning for causes beyond the playing field, including securing pay equality, calling out racism and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

“They’re a lightning rod for social change, if you look at all the topics that players take stands on and the reality of what they talk about, it’s authentic to them as individuals,” Walsh said.

“On International Women’s Day, they see their role in shaping the views of young boys and girls and being role models on the big stage. They take that role very seriously, and so our job as the organisers is to make sure that we build the platform for that.”

The Matildas are in camp this week ahead of the two friendlies with New Zealand, starting on Friday in Gosford where the 20,000-seat venue is almost sold out.

Forward Caitlin Foord said on Wednesday there is a sense of urgency in the squad, given the Asian Cup is little more than three months away.

“We need to get the most out of these games, and we have to tighten up what didn’t really go well last camp and really make the most of these two games because it is the final prep,” she said.

“Once we get into camp before the Asian Cup [in February], it’s going to come really fast, so we’ve just got to make the most of the days we have here.”

Header image: [Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images]