In a practically dead rubber on a searing hot Melbourne Wednesday evening at Marvel Stadium against an Uzbekistan team ranked 47th in the world, the Matildas put Uzbekistan to the sword roared on by a capacity crowd of 54,120 people.
This was the Matildas 12th sold out home game in a row. While the majority of these were huge crowds that somewhat unexpectedly turned out during last year’s Women’s World Cup against top teams like Ireland, Nigeria, Canada, Denmark, France, England, and Sweden, and a pre-tournament friendly against France, there have also been sold out matches against lower-ranked Asian teams such as Iran, the Philippines (59,156 in a match that was moved to Perth’s larger Optus Stadium to accommodate demand), Chinese Taipei, and now last week against Uzbekistan.
The Matildas celebrate a goal against Uzbekistan. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
In recent years the Matildas have been growing crowds, support and interest for a number of reasons:
The majority of the team’s players play in the big leagues for storied teams such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton, West Ham, Paris St Germain, Olympique Lyon and Real Madrid, and the Matildas have a genuine superstar in Chelsea’s Sam Kerr, who unfortunately injured her ACL in January and will miss the Paris Olympics.
Players regularly playing in the top leagues is the big difference between the Matildas and the current Socceroos.
They are ranked just outside the top 10 (currently 12th) in the FIFA rankings and were as high as 4th a few years ago, meaning they are able to compete with and beat the best teams in the world. Aussies like winners, and the Matildas fourth place at the World Cup last year was easily Australia’s best ever finish. Although they fell short of lifting the trophy, they took the scalps of some big teams along the way.
A feel-good vibe enhanced by personable and media-friendly female players (and their articulate Swedish coach Tony Gustavsson). This has helped with their media coverage and appeal to mainstream Australia. A casual analysis of a typical Matildas crowd clearly shows a lot more kids, young girls, women and a more family-friendly crowd and atmosphere compared to Socceroos crowds that tend to be predominantly male.
It’s no secret a number of the Matildas are lesbians and they provide a shining example of inclusiveness, acceptance, openness, and support for LGBTIQA+ people. The recent Netflix documentary “The World at our Feet” showed the Matildas stars’ lives, both on the pitch and off the pitch with their partners.
The Socceroos performed under expectations at the recent AFC Asian Cup. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
They are also role models for female equality and closing the gender pay gap. In 2019, the Matildas became one of the only national teams in world football to sign an equal pay agreement when they negotiated their first ever joint collective bargaining agreement with the Socceroos. This was an enormous step forward from the days where players were not even paid enough to cover travel costs and were forced to resort to a nude calendar to raise money.
In 2019 when equal pay was announced some in the public questioned why the female national team should be paid the same as the male national team with the disparity in crowds, popularity, sponsorship, and results. That may have been true in 2019 but in 2024 the Matildas are exceeding the Socceroos in all of these metrics.
Take for example:
The Socceroos play Lebanon at Commbank Stadium on the 21st of March, which may well be sold out, but the stadium’s capacity is only 30,000 compared to the 54,120 the Matildas had at Marvel. The Matildas had 3 crowds of over 75,000 at the World Cup and there could have been more crowds of this size had bigger venues been available.
The Matildas main sponsor is the Commonwealth bank versus Subway for the Socceroos.
The Socceroos made the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, equalling the Golden Generation’s best ever 2006 effort. The Matildas finished fourth at last year‘s World Cup.
Ellie Carpenter celebrates a World Cup goal. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
The Matildas have just qualified for the Paris Olympics later this year, whereas the men’s national team (U23 for the Olympics) must finish in the top 3 teams at next month’s U-23 Asia Cup to qualify. Assuming they are able to progress from their group, they must then beat probably South Korea or Japan in the quarter finals, and then win their semi-final or the 3rd place playoff which will be very tough.
There’s never been a more exciting time to be a football fan in Australia, with the Matildas incredible rise to become Australia’s most beloved sports team, best ever results for our national teams in both the men’s and women’s World Cups, the emergence of young stars in Europe, a National Second Tier football league starting next year, and last but not least the high quality football and unpredictable results of our much-maligned A-League, with recent positive news of a new owner for Perth Glory and expansion team Auckland joining in the 2024/25 season, and even more positive news perhaps coming soon.
nglencoem
Roar Rookie
Great article ! The Matilda’s certainly have the public behind them. You can feel the momentum ⚽️
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
My understanding is that The Roar used to be a rugby union only website and they expanded to include “all” sports. Which maybe explains why rugby union stories get so many comments? I didn’t know that AFL stories on The Roar got so few comments because I don’t read them. What AFL racism incident has occurred now?
Leon
Roar Rookie
Hi Kitwally After yet more revelations about racism at the AFL, which are all over the mainstream media, I had a look at the AFL section of this site, and so far, have been unable to find any comments. Could it be that those interested in AFL regard this as nothing to see here? It will all blow over? Nothing needs to change? Compare that to the introspection amongst the football fraternity around the Sam Kerr incident, and the behaviour of A League fans and associated policing. Their silence is deafening on the topic. If anyone does find anything, please let me know. I genuinely would like to read it.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Quite probably yes! The timing of the Sam Kerr story certainly contributed to the interest and comments!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Then you’ve also probably broken a record for comments on women’s sport because often no one comments on those articles on women’s sport. The Matildas are leading the way again and breaking new records! They’re not just outperforming the Socceroos!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Actually, after hearing more comments - technically it is not racist. In the end she has called someone a dumb, white cop. If it isn’t racist then why is she actually appearing in court?
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
There’s an article on the ABC website today about women’s sport. The article says that women’s sport only gets 15% of media coverage. That got me thinking, so I checked the Roar’s homepage and this article is the only article on women’s sport………..
Grem
Roar Rookie
She needs to lift her game! The Shovel looks like a bit of fun. Some other “informative” articles there.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
understood, sorry for misunderstanding. And I guess you can say that's to be expected. Reading is not big in some areas :stoked:
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
And this: https://theshovel.com.au/2024/03/07/sam-kerr-expresses-regret-at-calling-english-cop-bastard/
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
This is the second biggest newsite after the official A-league site I would be more worried if you end with the SMH situation which is 0 local football articles.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I meant some of the many NRL and AFL articles only get a few clicks if any.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Grem, fully agree mate, but look at the positives. There is more than one football fan out there wanting to discuss the game on and off the pitch. As my Grandfather always said "never take your good fortune for granted"
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I’m not excusing what happened, seems to have been badly handled by multiple parties, and it was a bad look and must have been very frustrating. But, WSW have come out and supported the RBB, the APL have as well (even if it was a bit weak), 3 of the 5 bans have been rescinded. I can understand the need to show solidarity, but I can’t really see what more the RBB are asking for. Their absence only harms the players, the club, and the league. At the end of the day, do they care more about the WSW football club they profess their love and passion for or themselves?
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Three of the five bans were rescinded. The others I believe are pending some written statements. But even if they were all rescinded, it doesn't change the way the rest of the fans were treated and the riot squad actions in creating problems where there were none, were inexcusable. People felt unsafe because of the police. It's disgraceful and something much bigger needs to happen, not just reverse a few bans. The damage has already been done, yet again, to the WSW brand and to football, men's football that is. There were only 6k there last night, that says it all.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
You have hit the nail on the head with this post Kitwally. The size of the crowd has nothing to do with the standard of football that the Matildas are playing, which is top notch by women's standards but well below Aleague men standard. It is because they have "connected" with the "Matildas" brand. It's the same reason many of us go to ALM matches, because we have connected with the clubs, it doesn't have to be the same standard as EPL to support ALM. I would say that some of the people going to these Matildas games may not even be football fans. Many are definitely event goers (as happens with all well attended sports events) because the Matildas are now getting msm coverage but I feel the majority are grassroots football playing girls dragging along their mothers and friends. These are the people football wants to connect with (the participants) and the Matildas have done it. My frustration is the vast majority of these people aren't going to ALW matches (in big numbers), and they definitely don't attend ALM matches, and I bet the majority haven't attended Socceroos matches. So how do we attract them to all local football? Hosting a men's world cup? Host the club world cup. Hosting and winning the 2015 men's Asian Cup certainly didn't have the desired effect as Ange has pointed out.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It could have been worse - Anthony Mundine could have come out in support of her! You can do without his help!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Many of those articles get 0 or few comments, so it’s not like they’re pulling in the clicks. And when we do get football articles, it’s annoying when 3 or more are on the same topic - The Wanderers fan walkout - surely 1 of those would have been enough.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
I thought the bans were rescinded? Also seems to have been Venues NSW’s security (mostly?) at fault that took over management in January, rather than the police? The RBB boycotted last night and Commbank had a crowd of 6,000. After a great goal from Milanovic, WSW fell away and let WU score 3. How much of this was caused by them missing the RBB 12th man we’ll never know. Or was it just brilliant team play from Peña and WU? The goals were all very good.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
Not just on The Roar.