Matildas stars Kyah Simon and Ellie Carpenter hail ‘surreal’ joy of winning World Cup hosting bid
‘You dream of playing in the World Cup, but to do so in your own back yard, in front of your own friends and family, that’s just something else.’ It may be three years away but the Matildas are pumped.
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Matildas stars have hailed the “amazing, surreal” prospect of playing in a World Cup in Australia, as delight at the success in being chosen to jointly host the 2023 tournament reverberated around the football community.
Already looking forward to the delayed Olympics next year, Ante Milicic’s squad will qualify automatically for the 2023 World Cup as co-hosts with New Zealand – an event they predict will “change the face of football forever”.
Several of the players were at Football Federation Australia’s HQ on Thursday night to hear the announcement that Australia/New Zealand had beaten Colombia and suddenly had just three years to organise a World Cup.
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“It’s just amazing, just surreal,” said fullback Ellie Carpenter who has just joined Olympique Lyonnaise, arguably the world’s biggest club.
“You dream of playing in the Olympics and the World Cup, but to do so in your own back yard, in front of your own friends and family?
“That’s just something else, and the thought of crowds full of green and gold. If people don’t know how big the World Cup is, they soon will do, the absolute pinnacle of sport for us.
“This will change the face of football. Even to this point, it has been amazing to see the growth in crowds and TV audiences for women’s football, but Australians love sporting events so much I can see every game being a sell-out.
“People will come from across the globe to support their team.”
Striker Kyah Simon predicted the lure of a home World Cup would ensure almost all the current squad seek to keep playing, helped by dramatically increased pay and conditions.
“I never thought, when I first signed up to play football aged eight, that there was even a chance of us hosting a World Cup,” said Simon, who missed last year’s tournament in France through injury.
“The bid really came to life as we came down to the wire, we could see the hard work being put in by the bid team and they have delivered such a special moment.
“The next three years will be massive with lots of quality football. Last year so many teams provided shocks at the World Cup, but I’d hope the vast majority of our team will still be playing at the World Cup.”
Seren Taylor (8), Sienna Stokoe-Fitzpatrick (9) and Isabella Mark (8) stayed up past their bedtimes for the announcement.
The three friends signed up for their first season of junior football with the Leichhardt Tigers, inspired by the Matildas.
“I can’t describe it in words, it will be amazing,” Seren said.
“Steph Catley, Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter are my favourite players.”
With the return of community sport on July 1 and the World Cup heading Down Under, the Tigers have plenty to look forward to.
“We already started training, but we start playing games soon, I am really excited,” Seren said.
3 RISING MATILDAS STARS FOR 2023
Mary Fowler (17)
The prodigy of Australian football made her senior international debut at 15, making her the fifth-youngest Matilda of all time. Now signed to French giants Montpelier she was in the Australian World Cup squad in France last year after scoring goals for fun at youth level.
Kyra Cooney-Cross (18)
A gifted midfielder with vision and wide passing range who has come through Australia’s age groups since featuring for the Mini Matildas aged 14. Cooney-Cross was on standby for last year’s senior World Cup and won the W-League with Melbourne Victory aged just 16.
Shay Evans (18)
The first scholarship holder funded by the John Moriarty Football Foundation has excelled since moving from Borroloola in the NT to Sydney in 2015. A forward, she has played, scored and been vice-captain of the Young Matildas, as well as scoring for Sydney FC in the W-League.