Australia’s favourite sports team, the Matildas, to play two games in Victoria in December

Passionate Victorian Tillies’ fans will have two chances to watch their heroes in action before the end of the year. See where and when.

The mighty Matildas will return to Victoria for a two-match series in December.

Spending their final two matches of the year on home soil, the Matildas will play at AAMI Park on December 4 before travelling to Geelong for the first time since 2017, to compete at GMHBA Stadium.

The Matildas — expected to feature a star studded line-up including Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter and Melbourne born and bred captain Steph Catley, will take on Chinese Taipei in the two international friendlies.

Matildas’ star Mary Fowler. Picture: Steven Markham

Matildas’ skipper Steph Catley. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Premier Jacinta Allan said bringing another international series to Victoria was a win for fans.

“The Matildas captured our hearts and we cannot wait to welcome them back to Victoria, giving more people the chance to see their heroes play in their own backyard,’’ she said.

Melbourne goes mad for the Matildas, with a then record 50,629 fans cheering their 1-0 win over France at Marvel Stadium in July 2023 and a sold-out Olympic qualifier against Uzbekistan at the same venue in February.

The Matildas also smashed TV ratings and inspired a new generation of girls and boys to play soccer at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos said: “We’re backing events that people really care about, attract visitors from all parts of the world, and that boost local jobs and businesses, with those benefits flowing into local communities.”

The Herald Sun this year revealed Victoria would not stage a single match of the 2026 Asian Women’s Cup, with the government failing to even bid for Matildas matches in Melbourne.

They will instead be played in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Taxpayers also bankrolled a $60m “Home of the Matildas” in Melbourne.

But Visit Victoria chief executive Brendan McClements said staging two more Matildas matches in December would attract tourists as well as reward passionate fans.

Victorian Tillies’ fans will have two opportunities to see their heroes play before the end of the year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“The Matildas’ final match for 2024 is another international coup for our state’s packed major events calendar, providing an opportunity for Victorians to see elite sport in their own backyard,’’ he said.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the Matildas venturing “beyond the city” would give regional fans a rare opportunity to cheer their national women’s team.

“Victorians are equally as passionate about football at the grassroots level as they are in their support of our national teams as evidenced by their continual strong turnout for home games,’’ he said.