Matildas to play against Chinese Taipei in two matches in Victoria

Matildas fans will get two chances to see the team play on home soil in December.

Football Australia is set to appoint an interim Matildas boss to ensure time is spent finding the “right coach” as the permanent replacement for the departed Tony Gustavsson.

The Matildas will return home in December for a two-match series against Chinese Taipei, with both games to be played in Victoria.

AAMI Park will be the venue for the December 4 battle, and Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium will host the second match between the teams three nights later.

The series will be the Matildas’ first matches on home soil since their May-June two-game series against China in Adelaide and Sydney.

The Matildas are yet to appoint a new coach following the departure of Gustavsson in August after Australia’s poor effort in the Paris Olympics women’s football tournament.

“We’re looking at the appointment of the next Matildas coach in two phases,” FA chief executive officer James Johnson said.

“We will appoint very soon an interim coach that will coach the Matildas until we appoint a permanent coach, and we’re doing that because we want to get the appointment right.

“We’re at the start of a four-year cycle, and we want to make sure we can take our time to make sure we get the right coach in place for the Matildas over the next four years.”

Nobody is more excitied than ©️aptain ©️atley to be heading back home to Victoria! 👋

🇦🇺v TPE 04.12.24 - @AAMIPark
🇦🇺v TPE 07.12.24 - @kardinia_park#Matildas#AUSvTPE#VisitMelbourne@[e-mail]/mRK2Jl4G30

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) September 13, 2024

The interim coach is set to be appointed within the next two weeks ahead of next month’s friendly matches in Europe against Germany and one other yet-to-be confirmed nation.

Reported coaching candidates include former England international and ex-San Diego Wave coach Casey Stoney, Sydney FC championship-winning mentor Ante Juric, current Matildas assistant Mel Andreatta and ex-Brisbane Roar men’s coach Ross Aloisi, who is now part of Kevin Muscat’s coaching staff at Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Port.

Johnson said the matches against Chinese Taipei were part of a “strategy” to prepare the Matildas for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup being held in Australia.

“We are looking forward to the fans starting to recreate that home support that will be a key as we commence the path to another home tournament,” he said.

“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.

“Pleasingly, the two-match series will also travel beyond the city to give fans who may not usually get the chance an opportunity to see their beloved Matildas.

“Playing in regional areas is important for us particularly with players like Kyra Cooney-Cross, Clare Hunt and Ellie Carpenter showing what is possible for kids playing the game from non-metropolitan centres to make it to the highest levels.”