How Coast can play part in Women’s World Cup win

Women’s World Cup training and trial games could be played out of Sunshine Coast Stadium as council looks to cash in on Queensland’s 2023 successful bid.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL. SAM KERR, Australian soccer player.

WOMEN'S World Cup training and trial games could be played out of Sunshine Coast Stadium as council looks to cash in on Queensland's 2023 successful bid.

Football Australia announced that Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium would be the official venue for the Women's World Cup in three years' time.

It could mean the likes of Australian Matildas superstars Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord lace up.

Sunshine Coast Stadium has hosted multiple elite sporting teams in recent years, including international sides from the Commonwealth Games in 2018, NRL matches and it was due to host the Women's State of Origin match.

Sunshine Coast Stadium

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Given the Matildas' success on the world stage it would be a major coupe for the region.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said council was engaged to determine the stadium's capabilities during the bid process.

"Football Australia and FIFA are aware of the venue and what could be provided," the spokeswoman said.

"Council will continue to liaise with other levels of government and peak football bodies to determine what role our region may be able to play in the World Cup.

"There is likely to also be pre-tournament training and trial games which may provide some opportunities for the Sunshine Coast to participate in this exciting event."

She said council was undertaking planning works to ensure the expansion project can commence as quickly as possible once approved and funding was confirmed.

The proposed stage one expansion will increase the seated capacity of the venue to 11,500 and taking into account the mounding at the north and south ends of the field, will increase overall capacity to 16,500 patrons.

Sunshine Coast Football Association president Chris Dunk said it would be "sensational" for a team to be based on the Coast. 

"It's as good as it gets, the World Cup is the pinnacle," Mr Dunk said.

"It would definitely boost our numbers, which are already strong, but this would be an even bigger draw card."

Mr Dunk said he hoped having the chance to host games would coax council into building an artificial football pitch.

He said the sport was crying out for one.

"We need to think long term, not as a stop gap." 

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