Melbourne will host six matches at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – the biggest women’s sporting event in the world – the sport’s international governing body has announced today.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula today welcomed the FIFA announcement of Victoria’s place in the schedule, with AAMI Park to host four group matches and two round-of-16 games.
“Victoria is a natural home for major sports events and global tournaments in 2023 won’t get any bigger than the
FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Minister Pakula said.
“We can’t wait to welcome the Matildas and other teams to Melbourne, along with thousands of soccer fans.”
Melbourne’s games will involve seven countries with the teams to be determined in the official draw next year.
Other World Cup games will be hosted in eight cities across Australia and New Zealand.
The 2023 tournament will be the first time the FIFA Women’s World Cup has been held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the number of competing countries will increase from 24 to 32. The World Cup will take place across July and August, with the Matildas’ group-stage game at AAMI Park set down for 31 July 2023.
The Matildas will have a home base in Melbourne in time for the tournament, thanks to a $101 million investment by the Victorian Government to build a high-performance centre for the national women’s team at La Trobe
University’s Bundoora Sports Park.
The project will deliver an ideal environment for the Matildas to launch their World Cup campaign, including a marquee pitch with grandstand seating, four other pitches, and high-performance facilities including a gymnasium
and wet recovery area, medical and rehabilitation centre, meeting areas and player lounge.
Grassroots clubs will have access to the centre’s pitches and community-level programs, including training for volunteers and administrators, referees and coaches conducted on-site.
