The Matildas have made it to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The City of Greater Geelong is gearing up to transform Steampacket Gardens into an exhilarating free live site, offering locals the opportunity to watch the potential FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, should the Matildas secure a place in the championship match set for Sunday, 20 August.
“Geelong has been swept up in the excitement of the Matildas’ performances so far during the World Cup,” Mayor Trent Sullivan says.
“There is a long way to go and we definitely don’t want to jinx the Matildas, but we felt it was important to let the community know about the potential live site now so that they can start planning for an amazing night on the Geelong Waterfront if we qualify.”
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“The Matildas’ performances so far have been inspiring and they face a very tough match-up against France in the Quarter Final,” he adds.
“The Council, along with the rest of the Geelong community, is right behind the team as they look to create further history by progressing deeper into the tournament.”
In a show of solidarity, the City is already demonstrating its support for the Matildas by lighting Central Geelong in green and gold. The catenary lights above the Moorabool and Malop Street intersection have been switched to the Australian colours, as have the up lights along the Waterfront. Should the Matildas progress to the final, expect even more exciting activations.
The full details of the live site will be shared with the community if the Matildas win the two pivotal matches needed to secure a place in the final.
With a strong focus on the Matildas, this World Cup has witnessed extraordinary support from Australians, who have been captivated by their performances. So far the Matildas have won three matches and lost one so far, going down to Nigeria 2-3.
As the Matildas venture into the Quarter Finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia’s enthusiasm for the sport has reached remarkable heights. The nation’s backing has translated into record-breaking television ratings, with the Matildas taking the limelight.
The Round of 16 match attracted a larger audience than the AFL and NRL Grand Finals from the previous year, and even surpassed the viewership of the State of Origin. Over 3.5 million people tuned in to witness the commanding performance on Channel 7, with 3.18 million watching on TV and an additional 385,000 streaming through the 7plus service. This remarkable achievement didn’t just outshine other sports broadcasts; it also eclipsed all major reality shows, emerging as the highest-rated television show of 2023 thus far.
The quarterfinal match against France is scheduled for Saturday, August 12, kicking off at various times across the country. It’s being broadcast on Channel Seven and Optus Sport, while ABC Sport is broadcasting live, uninterrupted and commercial-free coverage every day of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on the ABC Listen App.
Suncorp Stadium is expected to be completely sold out for the Tillies on Saturday after a capacity crowd turned out to Sydney’s Stadium Australia to witness history.
Keep an eye out for further updates as the journey continues.
