Matildas to play Olympic qualifiers in Campbelltown and Parramatta

Get ready Sydney, the Matildas are coming home, with three huge 2020 Olympic qualifiers that could draw record-breaking crowds in Campbelltown and Parramatta.

Sam Kerr of the Matildas celebrates scoring a goal during the Womens International Friendlies soccer match between the Matildas and Chile at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Saturday, November 9, 2019. (AAP Image/David Gray) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

• Virus robs Matildas rival of stars for qualifiers
• FFA CEO: “Never let a good crisis go to waste”

Campbelltown and Parramatta will host the Matildas’ bid to qualify for the Olympics.

After three days of intensive logistical discussions with venues across the city, Football Federation Australia confirmed that Australia will play its first two of three qualifiers at Campbelltown Stadium – against Chinese Taipei on Monday February 3 and then Thailand three days later.

The Matildas’ final – and potentially decisive – group game against China will then be held on Sunday February 9 at Bankwest Stadium, with hopes that game could attract a record crowd for a Matildas home game after more than 20,000 saw them play against Chile at the same venue last year.

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Bankwest Stadium is the perfect venue for the big games. Photo: AAP Image/David Gray

The scramble to find venues able to host the games – six in total, with a double-header on each date – as well as hotels and training grounds for all the teams, followed China’s decision to give up hosting the mini tournament in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has caused panic across the country.

Tickets for each date go on sale on Thursday at 11am, giving FFA just days to market the games following the decision to offer to host them at such short notice.

Sydney’s west will get behind the Matildas. Photo: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

“The collaboration between FFA and various stakeholders including the State and Federal Governments, as well as the two venues, over the past forty-eight hours has been fantastic,” FFA CEO James Johnson said.

“All parties have brought a real energy to the discussions to ensure that we could, as efficiently as possible, lock in the matchday details.”

“Our staff are continuing to work on the operational and logistical requirements for these fixtures in anticipation of the arrival of the participating nations, however securing the venues and kick-off times was paramount for the planning of the teams and fans,” he said.

Originally published as Matildas to play Olympic qualifiers in Campbelltown and Parramatta