FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to feature gender-neutral toilets at Accor Stadium

From getting changed in men’s toilets to embracing the full five-star change-room experience, the Matildas have come a long way. See exclusive pictures of Accor Stadium’s world-class facilities.

Daily Telegraph March 22/3/23. The new redeveloped gender neutral change rooms at Accor Stadium Homebush. Matilda Future under 20s World Cup players , blonde, Sarah Hunter and Abbey Lemon check out the new change rooms. picture John Grainger

No toilet paper. Open showers without doors.

Female athletes have long been forced to endure uncomfortable warm-ups in change rooms designed for men, but the new five-star sheds at Accor Stadium – to be opened on Thursday in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in July – is set to revolutionise stadium design globally.

The rebuild of four gender-neutral change rooms, each with their own recovery pools, was part of the overall $81.4 million stadium refurbishment that includes the longest outdoor screen at any stadium in the world, measuring 120 metres.

For two of Australia’s best rising footballers – Young Matildas and Sydney FC stars Sarah Hunter and Abbey Lemon – the sight of the new sheds was a welcome relief.

“There‘s been a lot of experiences that in the moment you don’t realise are not right, but when you look back, it’s like, ‘Oh’,” 19-year-old Hunter said.

The new redeveloped gender neutral change rooms include their own recovery pools. Picture: John Grainger

“Like we’ve had to get changed in men’s toilets and showers that are open, which I know men are sort of OK with, but girls, you know especially when you’re 16, 17 with women, it’s a bit of a shock when you have to have a shower with all these older women.

“Not that it's that bad, but just things like that where it’s uncomfortable, you take a step back and realise that’s not OK. And it’s great to see the progress that’s being made.

“It's just the feel in there. It’s nice and it’s new and it’s just the resources that have been put into this female tournament.

“And that's the big idea. I know it’s nice to have the flashy ice baths and all that, but I think it’s just knowing that you’re important, and this game that you’re in is important.

“I know when you get to a change room and it's really small and tight, it just puts you off for that game. Having such great facilities to get changed in and get your mentality right is going to be such a big thing for this tournament.”

Lemon, 20, added: “Definitely coming up from grassroots level, almost every female footballer can say they've experienced something along the lines of having poor facilities to prepare for a game, specifically the change rooms.

Matilda Future under-20s World Cup players Sarah Hunter (R) and Abbey Lemon (L) check out the new change rooms. Picture John Grainger

“Things such as urinals that might go for five metres along the wall and only having one bathroom to share between a whole team, in that one cubicle, there might not be toilet paper, there might not be proper disposal bins there.

“So it's not always been very female friendly, and that can be frustrating when you’re supposed to be focusing on the game, focusing on playing, but everyone’s cramped into this one change room and can’t prepare properly.

“Men may not have considered before how important it is, but just the little things that show that the support is there – like having bathrooms, proper space, the right facilities – they just make you feel more welcome to be part of that sport and they make you feel more supported as a female in the sport.”

Football Australia’s general manager of World Cup legacy programs, Carlee Millikin, said the rebuild would benefit women and men – the South Sydney and Manly NRL players will be the first to use it during Saturday night’s match.

“When we talk about our Legacy 23 plan, it's all about how we strive to gain benefits out of hosting this major tournament on home soil, and a big pillar of Legacy 23 is facilities,” Millikin said.

“So to see a fantastic stadium, and one of our major stadiums, take a big step forward in investing into inclusive facilities is going to help us have that continued conversation when it comes to community facilities and how we build them to be more inclusive.

Sarah Hunter has a run on the field at Accor Stadium. Picture John Grainger

“A facility is a massive part of how positive that experience is for women and girls and how much they want to come back and continue to play football.

“I know from my own personal experience playing sport, if I walked into a change room and there were urinals, it would negatively impact my experience. So I think that holistically from the playing group, it‘s going to be really critical and really important for them to take this next step and for them to get excited about that opening match in Stadium Australia.

“We want this tournament to be the biggest and the best FIFA Women's World Cup that has been held to date.

“And particularly when it comes to Australia, we're striving to be the leaders and we want to keep pushing that as far as we can go so that we can really achieve equality. So this is a great step in that direction.”

Venues NSW chief executive, Kerrie Mather, said the Accor Stadium upgrade was essential given the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the biggest sporting event held in Australia since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

The Matildas kick off the tournament against Ireland on Thursday, July 20 at the ground, which will host the final on Sunday, August 20.

Rugby league’s State of Origin game three will be played there on Wednesday, July 12.