Tasmanian soccer young guns excited about FIFA Women’s World Cup coming to town

Young Matildas graduate Aimee Medwin can’t wait for the best players on the planet to arrive in Australia for the 2023 FIFA World Cup — and she hopes to one day share a pitch with them.

Former Young Matildas representatives Aimee Medwin and Jessie Williams are excited the FIFA Women's World Cup is coming to Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

SHE’S the best women’s soccer player Tasmania has produced and Aimee Medwin would love to be wearing green and gold by the time the Matildas play here ahead of the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

The local soccer fraternity was buzzing on Friday when a joint bid by Australia and New Zealand beat Colombia 23 votes to 12 for the right to host the next women’s World Cup.

Not only will Tasmania get its share of the action, it will boost participation numbers across the board.

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Officials believe games will almost certainly be scheduled for Launceston’s World Cup-approved UTas Stadium, which will shed its AFL roots for a soccer set-up, and international teams are expected to train and play here, while lead-up appearances by the world-class Matildas are also on the cards.

Medwin, 21, and another Tasmanian soccer star Jesse Williams, 25, are both products of the Young Matildas academy.

Tasmania is yet to have a player make the Matildas.

Former Young Matildas representatives Aimee Medwin. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“We never have had that but it’s on the cards,” Medwin said.

“I would really like to be that person or be considered, or have one of the younger girls coming up be one of those people.

“That’s why you continue to play, for that opportunity, and I hope we see that happen in the future.

“If I was to make the national team, to play in my home country and my home state, that would be so special.”

Medwin and Williams hope Tasmania hosts some of the big guns of sport.

“It’s so great to think that we could have a team like France of Germany potentially play in Tasmania,” Medwin said.

“That would be such a big thing for us.

“It is a great opportunity and really motivating to everyone to go and watch these world class games live.”

Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten has worked behind the scenes to make UTas Stadium fit for football.

“It has flexibility for different sporting configurations — cricket, AFL, or soccer,” he said.

“Along with the economic and tourism benefits, these matches would inspire new generations of women, and encourage the take-up of the sport by new players.”