The Matildas will play their first matches on home soil since the Women’s World Cup when they face Chile in a two-match series in November at Sydney's new Bankwest Stadium and Adelaide's Coopers Stadium.
Head Coach Ante Milicic welcomed the return of the South Americans – who twice played the Matildas a year ago – as Australia set their sights on the Olympics.
“It is fantastic that we have been able to secure these international friendlies,” Milicic said.
“Chile performed admirably in a difficult group at this year’s Women’s World Cup and will provide a strong challenge for us as we seek to develop as a unit leading up to our Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers which commence in February next year.”
The Matildas will become the first Australian national football team to play at Bankwest Stadium.
“we are sure that this will be the first of many successful national team matches that Bankwest Stadium will play host to over the comings months and years,” said FFA CEO David Gallop.
The Matildas will also return to Adelaide for the first time since the 2006 Women’s Asian Cup Final.
Milicic said his squad and staff are delighted with the prospect of playing an international fixture in South Australia for the first time in over a decade.
“In my time as head coach of the Matildas, we have played fixtures in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, so it is great that our team will now have the opportunity to play in front of passionate fans in South Australia,” he said.
Gallop thanked the South Australian Government for backing the match and added that the fixture ought to serve as welcome news for Matildas supporters in the State.
“The Matildas, like the Socceroos, belong to the people of Australia, so it is fantastic we have been able to take this match to Adelaide as we continue to work on our bid to host the Women’s World Cup in Australia in 2023,” he said.
South Australia Premier Steven Marshall MP said securing the match is a coup for the state’s sporting scene, despite a row in the background over the state's potential role in a 2023 Women's World Cup.
The state had initially rejected playing any part in hosting the tournament if Australia won the bid to host it, but the SA government has since said they are willing to listen to a new proposal from the FFA in the next fortnight.
Today Premier Marshall added: “This is thrilling news for our state. We are finally going to have the Matildas back in South Australia, playing in front of a packed Coopers Stadium.
“This team is inspiring young women around the nation, and it’s fantastic that we’ll have another opportunity to see some world-class football right here in our state.”
Matildas v Chile
Date: Saturday, 9 November 2019
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 3.00pm (AEDT)
Matildas v Chile
Date: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Venue: Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-off: 7.00pm (ACDT); 7.30pm (AEDT)
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