- All general public tickets to Matildas vs
Philippines match at Optus Stadium sold
- Huge public demand and three sellout matches at
HBF Park saw Sunday, 29 October match moved to Optus Stadium
- Extra 40,000 Western Australians now able to see
the Matildas for the first time on home soil since the World Cup
This
weekend's Olympic qualifier between the Matildas and the Philippines has been
declared a sellout, with all general public tickets to the match at Optus Stadium
now being sold.
This
extends the Matildas' record to an impressive 11 consecutive sellouts - a
streak that started before the World Cup in their send-off game against France.
Following
unprecedented public demand after their World Cup heroics and three sellout
matches at HBF Park, the Cook Labor Government made the decision to move the
Sunday fixture to Optus Stadium, to allow thousands more Western Australians to
see the Matildas on home soil.
The
Matildas' match against the Philippines is part of the double header that will
see IR Iran take on Chinese Taipei - after the Matildas' match, kicking off at
6.00pm AWST.
The
huge Sunday at Optus Stadium complements the other four fixtures taking place
across another two double header match days at HBF Park, as part of the
exclusive Round Two qualifiers:
- Thursday 26 October [HBF Park]: Chinese Taipei
vs Philippines and Australia vs IR Iran;
- Sunday 29 October [Optus Stadium]: Philippines
vs Australia and IR Iran vs Chinese Taipei; and
- Wednesday 1 November [HBF Park]: Philippines vs
IR Iran and Australia vs Chinese Taipei.
The
matches mark the first time in five years that the Matildas will have played in
Perth, as well as the first opportunity to see them compete in Australia
following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The
Matildas are currently captained by WA homegrown hero Sam Kerr, and have been
proudly brought to Perth by the Cook Government, in partnership with Football
Australia and supported by VenuesWest.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"There's no better way to
welcome the Matildas to Perth than with three incredible sell-out crowds.
"My Government is proud to have
delivered these exclusive matches for Western Australian fans and visitors, off
the back of the Matildas' heroic performance in this year's FIFA Women's World
Cup.
"Matildas and football mania have
arrived and I, along with tens of thousands of fans, can't wait to revel in
this blockbuster week of women's football right here in Western Australia."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Matilda mania has well and
truly swept Western Australia and the country, and we're so excited to give our
'Tillies' such a huge reception this weekend and support them in their bid to
qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"The additional 40,000 tickets
are a great result for fans, but is also a welcome opportunity for our WA
tourism and hospitality sectors - giving them an additional boost which
supports the local economy.
"This just continues the
festival of football in Perth, following a huge FIFA Women's World Cup campaign
and really affirms our status as one of the fastest growing major events
destinations in South East Asia."
Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"This has been a huge win for
Western Australia and the footballing community with thousands more fans taking
up the opportunity to see the Matildas in action at Optus Stadium.
"With all remaining tickets now
snapped up, it's fair to say we're very excited to welcome the Matildas to
Perth for their triumphant return to global football after their stellar World
Cup campaign."
Comments attributed to
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson:
"The overwhelming support in
Perth, from the intimate atmosphere at the purpose built HBF Park to the
grandeur of Optus Stadium, underscores the nation's unwavering commitment to
our women's football team.
"Every cheer, every ticket
purchased, and every jersey worn by a fan reiterates the importance of the
CommBank Matildas to the Australian sports community. We are on an incredible
journey together, and there's no telling where this momentum will take us."
