Australia's first appearance in 17 years at the oldest invitational tournament in women's football, the Algarve Cup, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports.

All three of the Matildas' matches against world no. 5 Sweden, world no. 12 Netherlands and world no. 13 China as well as their placement match will be shown on the pay tv station.

Source: Foxtel TV Guide

The Matildas first clash with Olympics silver medallist Sweden is scheduled to be live on Fox Sports 3 with the coverage commencing right on kick off at 5.30am.

Meanwhile the matches against the Netherlands and China will be of Fox Sports 6 and Fox Sports 5, respectively.

The delay in any news about the Algarve Cup broadcasting has been due to the confusing broadcasting rights system for the tournament.  While run by the Portuguese FA, other European federations also have a say in the tournament.

There will be no free-to-air broadcasting of the Algarve Cup matches.  From TWG's understanding, a FTA bid was made for the rights but, with Fox Sports providing a higher bid, they claimed exclusive rights to broadcast the tournament as a FTA component was unable to be carved out.

In recent years Fox Sports has looked to become the home of women's football in Australia with coverage of the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup, Season 8 and 9 of the W-League and now the Algarve Cup.  SBS remains the home of the Women's World Cup with their award winning coverage in 2015 and set to broadcast the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

As well as Fox Sports, the Algarve Cup will be available on the Fox Go app.

The Women's Game will have full coverage of the tournament commencing 27 February 2017.

2017 Algarve Cup Fixtures

Australia v Sweden

1 March 2015

Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira

Kick off: 6:30pm local (2 March 2017 - 5.30am AEDT)

Australia v Netherlands

3 March 2015

VRS António Sports Complex, Vila Real de Santo António

Kick off: 3:00pm local (4 March 2017 - 2.00am AEDT)

China PR v Australia

6 March 2015

Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufeira

Kick off: 3:00pm local (7 March 2017 - 2.00am AEDT)

Placement Match

8 March 2017 (9 March 2017)

2017 Algarve Cup Squad

GOALKEEPERS (2): Lydia Williams (Melbourne City / Houston Dash), Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar)

DEFENDERS (8): Teigen Allen (Melbourne City), Steph Catley (Melbourne City / Orlando Pride), Ellie Carpenter (WS Wanderers), Emma Checker (Canberra United), Amy Harrison (Sydney FC), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Alanna Kennedy (Sydney FC / Orlando Pride), Gema Simon (Newcastle United)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Alex Chidiac (Adelaide United), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar),  Elise Kellond Knight (Turbine Potsdam), Emily van Egmond (Wolfsburg), Chloe Logarzo (Newcastle Jets)

FORWARDS (6): Lisa De Vanna (Canberra United / Orlando Pride), Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC), Emily Gielnik (Brisbane R0ar), Sam Kerr (Perth Glory / Sky Blue FC), Hayley Raso (Canberra United / Portland Thorns), Kyah Simon (Sydney FC)