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The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) have on announced they have secured a long-term deal with the New South Wales government to have internationals played in Sydney for the next five years, with both the Socceroos and Matildas featuring.
Between both the men’s and women’s sides, there will be 11 matches played in New South Wales between now and 2020, with the Matildas to have six of those and the Socceroos five. This includes the upcoming World Cup Qualifier for the Roos, to be played against Jordan on March 29 at Allianz Stadium.
“The Socceroos and the Matildas are the national teams that truly represent Australia in all its diversity and they have a fantastic supporter base in NSW,” said FFA CEO David Gallop.
“These teams are premium brands in the sports landscape and their matches are always popular.”
“The Socceroos qualified for the last World Cup and the won the AFC Asian Cup in Sydney. We look forward to making more history over the next five years.”
Australia’s men’s team will play World Cup qualifiers, following the match against Jordan in 2017, 2019 and 2020 with an international friendly to be held in 2018. This is believed to be in the planning as the final game before Australia leave to Russia for the World Cup, providing they are to qualify once again.
Looking ahead, the Socceroos have up to 11 matches still left in 2016, many of them qualifiers for the World Cup with the next stage of Asian qualifying starting in September, before they play nine in 2017 along with the Confederations Cup and potentially three friendlies in 2018 during the lead up to the World Cup.
The Matildas, have been one of the nations best news stories in recent times, qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic games.
David Gallop said: “This agreement also allows us the opportunity to showcase the Matildas on home soil. The Matildas have proven to be tremendous role models for young women at the World Cup and the recent Qualifiers in Japan.”
The agreement with the New South Wales State Government, though, has the potential to raise questions about why other states haven’t locked in agreements for international football to be played. There are still plenty of matches to be locked away of course, with Sydney only being scheduled for a handful over the next five years but it may leave other State Governments scrambling.
Gallop said there has been discussion from other State Governments to try and lock down games, but no agreements had yet been reached.
The Socceroos made history in November last year, playing their first ever International match in Perth against Bangladesh, and with the continued expansion of Football in Australia, the fight for games between states may begin to heat up.
For now, though, the Soccerroos will be getting ready for their upcoming qualifiers against Jordan and Tajikistan which will be played at the Adelaide Oval in another first for football in Australia, while the Matildas prepare for Rio 2016.
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