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Intro
Left to right: Katelyn Smith (Goalkeeper, CommBank ParaMatildas), Jessica Skinner (Midfielder, CommBank Junior Matildas), Ischia Brooking (Junior Matildas players), Tony Franken (Goalkeeping Coach, CommBank Matildas), James Johnson (CEO Football Australia), Carolyn Turnbull (Managing Director Tourism WA), Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, the Hon Roger Cook MLA, Danielle Brogan (Matildas Alumni), Thea Slatyer (Matildas Alumni), Ruby Cuthbert (Midfielder, CommBank Junior Matildas), Jae Pettitt (Matildas Alumni).
Match fixtures have been updated following the publishing of this article.
The Australian national women's soccer team is currently captained by Perth-born football 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.
Australia was announced last week as the host nation for Group A of this round of the Asian Qualifiers, with 6 matches proudly brought to Perth by the State Government through Tourism WA, in partnership with Football Australia and supported by VenuesWest.
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 3 matches, supported by the recently launched new direct flight between Perth and Manila.
The Matildas have 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:
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 to 10 August 2024. 12 women's national teams from 6 continental confederations will compete overall.
The Asian qualifying round matches will follow 5 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 matches in July and August at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
General public tickets for round 2 matches will be available soon at the Matildas' website.
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