FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2023

About the event

Australia hosted 35 games throughout the tournament in 5 host cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. First-time finalists Spain and England competed for the title at Sydney Football Stadium, with Spain taking a 1–0 victory.

Australia’s national team, the Matildas, competed in their eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their performance on and off the field cemented their position as one of our most loved sporting teams. 

After finishing top of their group, the Matildas defeated Denmark 2–0 in the round of 16. They also defeated France in a record quarter-final penalty shootout that stopped the nation. 

The Matildas went on to complete their most successful FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the semi-final. They finished fourth overall following a 2–0 loss to Sweden.

Key event moments

Australia’s quarter final penalty shootout against France stands out as a memorable moment in Australian sport. With scores tied at nil all following extra time, the Matildas survived the longest penalty shootout in FIFA Women’s World Cup history.

Matildas' goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold saved 3 penalty attempts to give Australia the chance at victory. In an iconic moment, Courtnee Vine kicked the winning penalty to secure the Matildas’ 7–6 win over France. 

It was the first time the Matildas advanced to the semi-finals. This is Australia’s best result in either a men’s or women’s world cup.

Other highlights from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 included:

• the youngest player to make an appearance was just 16 years old
• the first transgender and non-binary player competed
• the first player to wear a hijab in a match
• 8 nations made their debut.

Event impact

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 was the most successful Women’s World Cup in history. The tournament showcased Australia to the world and started important conversations and action on gender equality and women’s rights. Highlighted by the Gender Equality Symposium, the event raised global awareness on key gender equality topics, including: 

• closing the gender pay gap
• equal human rights for women
• increasing participation of women in sport.

It set new tournament attendance and television viewership records. This includes the Matildas’ semi-final match against England being the most watched television program in Australian history. 

The tournament also had a wide range of positive social and economic impacts across the nation, such as:

• inspiring young girls and boys to pursue their dreams and break gender stereotypes
• encouraging participation in sport 
• bringing the community together.

Beyond the Trophy

The Minister for Sport released Beyond the Trophy, a report that highlights the economic and social impact from hosting the tournament. The report details how Australians embraced the opportunity to witness the world’s best female footballers on home soil. It also reaffirmed Australia’s reputation as a world leader in hosting major events.

The report highlights the ongoing impact that hosting the tournament and the success of the Matildas’ has had on the Australian sporting landscape:

• Increased participation levels of girls and women in football at grass roots level.
• Increased funding for women and girls sports at all levels through the $200 million Play Our Way grant program.
• Australia awarded the hosting rights of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

Legacy

Australian Government support for Legacy ‘23

The Australian Government committed almost $18 million for legacy projects to support Football Australia’s Legacy ’23 program, including:

• $8.8 million to support football participation, including for programs targeted at involving more women and girls in football, such as
  • MiniRoos for Girls
  • Football Your Way
• supporting more girls and boys from migrant communities to play football and engage more actively in their local communities
• funding for a National Club Development Program – Club Changer
• $9 million for high performance and talent pathway funding, including 8 Matildas matches leading up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Beyond Greatness Speaker Series 

The Beyond Greatness Speaker Series was hosted by the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Events were held in all Australian host cities during the tournament’s group stage.

Panels featured inspiring Australian women, including:

• Cathy Freeman OAM
• the Hon Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO
• Natasha Stott Despoja AO. 

Matildas’ stars Elise Kellond-Knight, Chloe Logarzo, Emily Gielnik and Sarah Walsh also joined as part of the panel discussions. They each shared their incredible stories, wisdom and experiences.  

Their stories demonstrated how the community possess the power to make a difference and create a brighter, more inclusive future.

Gender Equality Symposium 

The Gender Equality Symposium was an event held alongside the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. It was co-hosted by: 

• Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP
• Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong. 

The event showcased Australian Government priorities for gender equality through leveraging major sporting events. The symposium brought together: 

• global leaders
• emerging leaders
• industry experts
• government representatives. 

Their goal was to inspire action and connection in advancing gender equality and the human rights of women and girls through the power of sport. 

Festival 23

The transformative power of football was celebrated at Festival 23. The event brought together 70 young women from over 40 countries, along with 2,500 young Australians. The festival created awareness of critical issues facing the world, with a focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Festival 23 held activities for the benefit of youth, women and girls. This included: 

• a youth leader summit 
• a year-long mentorship program
• a football tournament
• educational workshops and cultural programs.

First Nations Voices in Media

The Australian Government committed funds to build community and capacity through First Nations voices at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. 

This initiative brought together Indo-Pacific and First Nations women storytellers to boost diverse representation in media coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The program:

• increased first-hand opportunities for First Nations women providing sports media and journalism
• elevated First Nations voices in Australia's hosting of sports events 
• built a community between First Nations women in sports media across the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia.

Participants had the opportunity to gather new skills and create new networks with possibilities for employment, collaboration and education. It provided a new way of connecting across cultures and sharing diverse lived experiences. 

Home of the Matildas

To support Australia’s national women’s football teams and the football community, the Australian Government committed funding for the construction of the new ‘Home of the Matildas’. This included a purpose-built Football Centre at La Trobe University, Bundoora, providing the football community with a world-class facility. 

Its benefits include:

• 3,500 hours of pitch access for clubs and community groups each year
• access to high-performance facilities for national women’s teams of all ages 
• hosting participation, pathway and leadership programs which encourage women of all backgrounds and abilities to participate in football.

Play Our Way 

The Australian Government announced the $200 million Play Our Way grant program towards the end of the tournament. The program aims to provide greater opportunities for women and girls to access, participate and remain involved in sport and physical activity.

Play Our Way will provide funding for local solutions and improvements that address participation barriers faced by women and girls. 

Applications for the program opened on 18 March 2024 and close 29 April 2024. Read more about Play Our Way.