Matildas v Ireland World Cup TV ratings: Australia creates history with over 2 million viewers
The Matildas pledge to create a lasting legacy at this World Cup is well on the way, after Australia created history in their win over Ireland.
A legacy, that is what the Matildas have pledged to create this Women’s World Cup – and they are well on the way with more than 2 million people tuning in to watch their opening game win over Ireland.
Figures released by Channel 7 revealed an average audience of 1.97 million tuned in to watch the Matildas defeat Ireland 1-0 in their first game of the home World Cup.
It beats the 1.46 million who watched the Matildas take on Sweden at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – which at the time was a record for women’s sports viewership in Australia.
The Matildas game was unrivalled by other sports on Thursday night with 546,000 tuning in to watch last night’s Ashes and just 176,000 watching the Dragons take on the Tigers in the NRL.
With the match played in front of 70,000 people at Stadium Australia and also screened at FIFA fan sites and pubs around the nation – it is fair to say the Matildas have captured the hearts of Australia already – and it’s only game one.
Optus Sport VP of Product Development Clive Dickens said they don’t release match specific figures daily but could report it was the most streamed women’s football game in Optus Sports’ history.
“We have streamed hundreds of women’s football games on Optus Sport in the last couple of years including the 2019 Women’s World Cup, FA Cup and the Women’s Euros last year where England won – we have a rich history of streaming women’s football and last night was by far the largest audience we have seen at Optus Sport,” Dickens said.
“It is really exciting. We had 600 licensed venues across the country, including 60-80 council run live sites, all reported record crowds, and we have had an influx of venues seeking licences today.
“I can confidently predict that this is the baseline number, everything goes up from here.”
On top of their record streaming figures Dickens said there has been strong interest in Optus Sports’ social media content, rolled out on TikTok – an official partner with FIFA.
He said the Australian figures had Optus Sports social media reach, dominated by Tik Tok, yesterday at just under 2 million.
Channel 7 say the game reached 4.88 million people, with an average audience of 1.97 million. The game, which was so big the network didn’t air much loved drama Home And Away, peaked at 2.28 million viewers.
Seven’s Head of Network Sport and Managing Director of Seven Melbourne Lewis Martin said the event was off to a “flying start”.
“It was fantastic to see the Matildas in action last night and their victory over Ireland was a great start to their campaign to claim the Cup,” Martin said.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the biggest global sporting event of the year, the most-attended stand-alone women’s sporting event in history and a true celebration of women’s sport.”
MATILDAS REPORT CARD: COACHING MISFIRE IN NARROW ESCAPE
—Tilly Werner
We can’t go under it. We can’t go over it. We’ll have to … just get through it, somehow.
Ireland’s defensive wall proved almost too bricklike in the Matildas’ hard-fought 1-0 win in their opening World Cup match.
With few ways into the attacking box, Australia struggled to deliver many meaningful attempts on goal, with most of the play bogged down in a tightly-contested middle third, making the player lines more distinctive than we are used to with the Australian’s penchant for fast, fluid play.
Here is how each line performed for the Matildas.
Goalkeeper: A
Mackenzie Arnold was relatively unchallenged as the last line, making good distributions and comfortable grabs when called upon. The backline was put to the test in the final 15 minutes, when Ireland threw their weight forward in an effort to pull even, yet Arnold stood up, running out the clock where appropriate and looking comfortable against the backdrop of a World Cup debut at home.
Defenders: A-
Clare Hunt – aside from a late, careless aerial challenge – played with all the class of a top defender. She wasn’t afraid to take time with the ball, look for directional shifts and keep her eyes up. Pairing with Alanna Kennedy for just the second time in the centre, the two looked comfortable together, stopping most attacks.
Ireland’s best advances came from counters up the flanks, when fullbacks Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter were caught high. With Ireland’s low and tight defensive line, Catley and Carpenter’s speed on the wings was quashed and the two played far more in their own half than they usually desire; but performed their duties well, limiting Arnold’s workrate at the back and helping to keep the sheet clean for a fourth straight match.
Midfielders: B-
The super mum doesn’t only look after her daughter Harper, dubbed the team’s 24th player, but was every bit the Matildas’ matriarch on the field. With 24 per cent of play contested, Katrina Gorry’s hunger for the ball and unmatched intent through the middle was crucial. Unfortunately though, she can’t do it alone.
Kyra Cooney-Cross looked a little nervy in her first World Cup match, struggling to make impactful distributions, but holding up well in challenges and finding some nice moments in deliveries to her flanks. However, this wasn’t a game for wingers.
Hayley Raso’s aggressive football was comfortably matched by the Irish and with their low defensive line, her speed couldn’t be as much of a factor as the Matildas usually count on. The same issue ailed Cortnee Vine, who found plenty of the ball on the left but found it difficult to make the second pass, with Ireland giving so little space.
Strikers: C
Ireland was always going to be difficult to break across its backline. Playing a relatively flat defensive five, on top of four midfielders, they rely on strength and drilled, methodical movement to form a blockade that many teams struggle to break down. Australia struggled, with no goals from open play ultimately telling the tale.
Despite racking up five corners through the first half, the Matildas’ front line couldn’t make any meaningful connections with the aerial balls in, which could prove costly against the counterattacking speed of both Nigeria and Canada. The Matildas notched 10 shots, with just two – including Catley’s penalty – on target.
After a halftime plea from Tony Gustavsson for composure, and waiting for chances rather than drilling the ball over the top, there were more shots from outside the area in the second half, yet each did a better job of finding the backs of Irish defenders than the back of the net.
With Sam Kerr definitely ruled out of the Nigeria clash, and potentially longer, a more varied approach to goal will be required going forward.
Bench: D
After Kerr’s injury was belatedly revealed, the spotlight was put on Australia’s depth; something that coach Tony Gustavsson has actively built over the past two years. Cortnee Vine (who debuted under Gustavsson in 2021) and Mary Fowler (directly replacing Kerr) both started in attack, which was a significant feat.
However, it was almost completely undermined by his use of the bench against Ireland.
Gustavsson looked to have given up on going for goal with Vine subbed off for Emily van Egmond in the 74th minute. Vine’s speed for van Egmond’s … experience, perhaps?
To have the game-changing force of Alex Chidiac sitting unused while van Egmond was deployed seemed a defensive call and the veteran was able to offer little going forward. The bus was firmly parked when Clare Polkinghorne moved into a third central defensive role, subbed into the game for Fowler.
The job is done, the opening three points are secured – but the confidence of Matildas fans may not be after a narrow escape.
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