Socceroos, Matildas to play set amount of games in NSW under landmark agreement

NSW will host Socceroos and Matildas games every year for the next five years under a landmark deal unveiled by the state government on Wednesday.

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NSW HAS thrown down a $7m gauntlet to the other states after securing a deal to ensure the Socceroos and Matildas play 11 games between them in Sydney and its surrounds over the next five years.

Football Federation CEO David Gallop called on the other states to follow NSW’s lead, after announcing that World Cup qualifiers for the Socceroos will be played in Sydney in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

A friendly will also be played here in 2018, potentially a send-off game if Australia has made the World Cup, while the Matildas will play six games over the five years in NSW.

The NSW government claims the $7m spent on the games will bring in some $20m of tourism income, starting with the World Cup qualifier with Jordan on March 29 at Allianz Stadium, five days after Australia faces Tajikistan — a double header that will determine whether Ange Postecoglou’s side advances to the final phase of qualifying for Russia 2018.

The government and FFA both hope the Matildas games will capture the public’s imagination after their success at qualifying for the Olympics last week.

The NSW deal contrasts with Victoria’s caution around Socceroos games, taking some time to agree a deal for the second of two friendlies with Greece in June to be played in Melbourne.

With five home qualifiers to follow in the final phase of World Cup games in 2016 and 2017, plus potential send-off games, Gallop said governments had to invest to secure the right to host them.

“We know football has a huge supporter base in NSW and we’re locked in for a game a year here for the Socceroos and obviously six games for the Matildas,” Gallop said.

“But come April we’ll know what the next round of World Cup qualification will look like and we certainly want to see other state governments follow NSW’s lead and try to get hold of these big games.

“I hope it encourages competition around the country. We want to take the Socceroos and the Matildas everywhere but unashamedly we have to get a commercial return.

Sydney crowds have been passionate supporters of the national team.

“Sydney is a happy hunting ground for us, we’ve had success here with the final of the Asian Cup and the lead up games to Brazil but there’s no reason why other states can’t get involved.”

NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres insisted that the return on the investment was a sound one.

“These international matches will attract thousands of visitors to the state, with a total estimated visitor impact of more than $20 million,” he said. “This is great news for local hotels, restaurants and businesses, as well as local football fans.”

The one caveat is the quality of the pitches for the games at stadiums where other codes overlap, with Postecoglou making his frustration clear in the past when surfaces have made it difficult for the team to play their preferred quick-passing style.

“By all reports the Allianz pitch still in decent condition,” he said. “But I’ve been pretty public in the last few games in making sure that if a pitch isn’t up to standard here in Australia then I’ll make noise about it.

“Knowing how hard the qualification process will be, the conditions we have to face away from home and the style of football we play, having a good pitch is essential.

“Perth delivered for us but Canberra wasn’t up to scratch. It’s not me being precious, it’s about having every advantage that we can with a home crowd and a pitch that suits our style of football.”