Matt Hewson
Australia’s national women’s soccer team the Matildas will play a friendly against Chinese Taipei at Kardinia Park in December.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited GMHBA Stadium today (September 13) to announce the Matildas would play two matches in Victoria, one at AAMI Park on December 4, followed by the match in Geelong on December 7.
It will mark the first time the Matildas have played at the stadium since its redevelopment, with the Matildas playing their last match at Kardinia Park in 2017.
Premier Allan said she was “really pleased” to announce the Victorian matches.
“We know just how important it is to Victorians to be able to see the Matildas in our own backyard,” she said.
“We saw the packed crowds earlier this year as the Matildas played Uzbekistan and also last year in the lead up to the World Cup as they played France in that remarkable game… last year.
“We’re bringing the Matildas back here to Geelong. It’s the first time the Matildas have played here in Geelong since 2017 and a lot has changed here at Kardinia Park over that period of time, thanks to the investment that our Labor government has made.”
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said while they were friendlies, the Matildas’ two Victorian games were “important matches”.
“We’ve got about 15 months until the Women’s Asian Cup, played here in Australia, so these matches are the start of a new cycle for us,” Mr Johnson said.
“We’re in the process of wanting a new coach and when we bring the team back here these will be good preparation matches as we ensure the team is performing as well as possible (ahead of) the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.”
General admission for the Matildas vs Chinese Taipei will go on sale on Friday, September 20.
