Matildas to play must-win qualifier at Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium not considered

Hopes the Matildas could play an Olympic qualifier in Geelong have been quashed, with the Victorian government and Football Australia opting to play the game in Melbourne.

Mary Fowler of the Matildas poses for selfies with fans after the AFC Women's Asian Olympic Qualifier match between Australia and Chinese Taipei at HBF Park in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Hopes the Matildas could play an Olympic qualifier in Geelong have been quashed, with the Victorian government and Football Australia opting to play the game in Melbourne.

GMHBA Stadium was ultimately “not considered” due to limited capacity, with Marvel Stadium announced as the venue on Monday.

The Matildas are set to play Uzbekistan twice – away on February 24, followed by a fixture on home soil on February 28, with the overall winner earning a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium emerged as an unlikely contender to host the crucial match, after the MCG was ruled out.

The Australian leg of Taylor Swift’s sellout Eras Tour will take over the stadium mid-February, with post-concert ground rehabilitation set to take weeks.

The announcement comes almost three weeks after Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan penned an open letter inviting the Matildas to play in Geelong.

However, the match will be played at the 56,000 seat Marvel Stadium, despite the venue being used for concerts less than a week before the scheduled match.

Pop superstar Pink will perform at Marvel on February 23 and 24, but Football Australia is confident the turf will be in fine condition come matchday.

A Football Australia spokesman said that Marvel’s “higher seating capacity” meant it could better meet “expectations of a high demand for tickets and the potential for a sellout event”.

A previous Olympic Qualifier in Perth attracted 59,000 supporters in October.

When current works are completed, GMHBA Stadium will have a capacity of 40,000.

“While GMHBA Stadium is a remarkable venue, it was not considered as a primary option for this particular fixture due to the capacity requirements and the expected fan turnout, which Marvel Stadium is more suitably equipped to handle,” the spokesman said.

Football Australia was “aware of the challenges” of the venue hosting a concert four days before the clash, and said a “turf management plan” was in place.

“This plan ensures that the playing surface will be maintained at an optimal level, preserving its quality and playability for the match,” the spokesman said.

“Our arrangements with Marvel Stadium are specific and have been tailored to ensure that the stadium is fully prepared and the turf is in excellent condition within the required time frame.”

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said on Monday the city would not give up trying to attract events to Geelong, despite the disappointing outcome.

“Council will continue to advocate for world class sport to be hosted in Geelong, as we have

the facilities and the passionate fans to make it a memorable event,” he said.

“While this match would have been a great addition, we have elite cycling, sailing and golf

events on our summer calendar to look forward to.”

Originally published as Matildas to play must-win qualifier at Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium not considered