Matildas final warm up match before World Cup officialls sells out
The Matildas last hitout before the FIFA Women's World Cup, a friendly against France at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, has sold out.
With more than 50,000 general release tickets sold, the match is set to break the existing home crowd record for the Matildas, set in 2021 when 36,109 people turned up at Accor Stadium to watch the Matildas take on the powerhouse US team.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the he wasn't surprised to see the match sell out, given the enormous interest in the Women's World Cup.
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"The Matildas are a team that resonates with all Australians as one of the most popular national teams in the country, and we have witnessed the rapid growth in both general interest and attendances over the past four years," he said in a statement announcing the sell-out.
Steph Catley and Sam Kerr with their jerseys at a public event unveiling the Matildas squad ahead of the World Cup. Getty
"This is testament to the hard work of so many both on and off the field.
"When Football Australia bid to co-host the FIFA Women's World Cup, we knew it would provide an unprecedented platform for the women's game to shine and inspire, where the legacy created by staging this tournament will be felt for decades to come.
"Our Matildas are box office, and along with the Socceroos can unite a nation like no other teams. We look forward to lifting the roof off Marvel Stadium during what will be a very special occasion."
The Matildas final squad of 23 was unveiled at an event in Melbourne's Federation Square on Tuesday.
Coach Tony Gustavsson said his side is building momentum coming into the event, and won't apologise for its ferocity on the pitch.
"We're always going to be an in your face kind of team, no matter who we're playing," Gustavsson said.
"We know how to play a pressing game and attack a lot. It takes a lot of running … we ran them hard."
The World Cup is set to be the biggest ever women's sporting event with more than a million tickets sold.
The Matildas are in Group B with Canada, Nigeria, and the Republic of Ireland. Their campaign gets underway against the Irish at Stadium Australia on Thursday week.
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