Samson Star Sam Kerr to lead Matildas at home!

The Matildas, led by Samson Primary School alumnus Sam Kerr, are coming to Perth for three Olympic Qualifier matches.

Sam Kerr mural Norfolk Street Fremantle. Credit Fremantle Shipping News

Understandably, Premier Mark McGowan was quite excited to announce the news this morning.

Matildas are to play three Olympic Qualifier matches in Perth later this year. Double-header fixtures, which are part of Asian qualifying rounds for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, are being supported by the State Government through Tourism WA, in partnership with Football Australia.

He Matildas are set to play three games at HBF Park. Pity it’s not Freo Oval, but there you go.

The Australian national women’s soccer team is currently captained by mega star Sam Kerr, who is expected to lead the Matildas in the matches, which will take place across three days between 26 October and 1 November 2023.

The games are part of Round 2 of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, for which the Matildas automatically progressed to Round 2 based on their high placing in the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers.

The Matildas will only play in Perth as part of the Round 2 qualifiers.

The Australian squad will face off against Round 1 winners from IR Iran, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines, with thousands expected to travel to WA to watch the three matches, supported by the recently launched new direct flight between Perth and Manila.

The Matildas have only played in Perth once before – in 2018, in a friendly match against Thailand. That game drove leagues of football fans to Perth.

Six Round 2 games will take place in Perth overall, across three huge double-header days, with matches played back-to-back:
* Thursday 26 October – Australia vs Iran and Chinese Taipei vs Philippines;
* Sunday 29 October: – Iran vs Chinese and Taipei Philippines vs Australia; and
* Wednesday 1 November: – Australia v Chinese Taipei and Philippines vs Iran.

Group winners and the best-ranked runner up from Round 2 matches played in Perth and across the People’s Republic of China and Uzbekistan will advance to the third and final round of the qualifying tournament, to be held in February 2024.

The winning teams will take the two spots reserved for Asia in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament to be held at the Paris Olympics from 24 July – 10 August 2024. Twelve women’s national teams from six continental confederations will compete overall.

The Asian qualifying round matches will follow five FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 matches in July and August at Perth Rectangular Stadium.

Keep an eye out for general public tickets for Round 2 matches will be available soon here on the Matilda’s website.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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