FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: How can Matildas capitalise on dream run and build for future

More than 7million people watched the Matildas’ semi-final against England, showing the appetite for football in Australia. ROBERT CRADDOCK examines what’s next for the code and how it can convert its newfound fans.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 16: Hayley Raso (C) and Australia players applaud fans after the team's 1-3 defeat and elimination from the tournament following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Semi Final match between Australia and England at Stadium Australia on August 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Where to now?

The magnificent Matildas are gone but what will they leave behind? Can soccer build on what they have created? How can they capture this tsunami in a bottle?

Don’t be fooled by the plastic smiles – AFL and NRL officials are nervous about the giant footprint left by Matildas who created a patriotic fervour never seen before in this country.

Both the AFL and NRL have created major women’s competition and suddenly there is a women’s team that every young girl wants to be the poster on their wall.

Grassroots soccer is set to explode. The Matildas’ supercharged profile will stay high.

The trouble is with most of the players set to return to Europe rather than play locally there is a gap in the system which swallows up so much momentum.

The Matildas captured the imagination of the Australian public. Picture: Monique Harmer

Not since Cathy Freeman won gold at the Sydney Olympics, at the very stadium Australia played at last night, has there been such a tangible sense that one team or individual had inspired a new generation.

Freeman’s imprint was big at the time but you only realised how big when Olympics rolled past in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012 and it seemed every second athlete, from gold medallists like Sally Pearson to others you have never heard of, told stories about how Cathy’s win drove their Olympic spirit.

The insane reaction to the Matildas progress in this tournament, which at times had one in seven people in the land watching on television, will inspire a generation of imitators.

The urgent challenge for soccer is how it captures them.

Can the Matildas capitalise on their World Cup success and turn into something sustainable? Picture: Getty

That is a question contemplated by one member of the crowd last night, Olympic gold medal winning beach volleyball player Natalie Cook, who was in the crowd supporting her close friend and former Olympic teammate Katrina Gorry.

“I absolutely love what they have done, but the question which they will leave behind is how to we keep the spirit alive,’’ Cook said.

“It is a challenge because a lot of them will leave the country to return to play in Europe. How can we keep more of them playing here?

“I have seen first hand what is happening because I have tried to get my daughter a sport playing in Kenmore in Brisbane and there are not enough spots. At the moment there are not enough fields there.

“It’s amazing. As someone involved in the 2032 Olympics I am loving how they remind everyone of what it means to have a truly international event in your city.’’

This World Cup will leave behind bucketloads of goodwill for the code.

There was barely any whinging and plenty of mutual goodwill and respect between the teams.

The refereeing was excellent and the respect for the whistle blowers from the players was a lesson to players in so many other sporting codes.

As for the Matildas? The memories they have created will always be rated among Australia’s greatest sporting moments.

Originally published as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: How can Matildas capitalise on dream run and build for future