Opinion
Opinion: Matildas’ success has ensured soccer will become Australia’s national sport
The Matildas’ World Cup success has enthralled a nation and will ensure that the AFL, NRL, netball and cricket will eventually be relegated to the sidelines.
The Aussies have reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after a nail-biting penalty shootout against France on Saturday, August 12.
Millions of Australians, including myself and my colleagues, watched the match with bated breath and erupted in jubilation as the Matildas came out victorious.
Whether Australia wins the tournament remains to be seen.
However, it’s clear that soccer will eclipse the AFL, NRL and netball as the national sport of Australia.
Firstly, television viewing numbers favour soccer.
On Monday, August 7 Australia beat Denmark to reach the quarter-finals.
The match was viewed by an average of 3.56 million people on Seven and 7plus and according to data had more views than the AFL and NRL’s main events from 2022.
The Australia v France match had an average of 4.17 million viewers.
Both now and in previous soccer world cups, public areas have been packed for viewings.
Footage on X (formerly Twitter) showed fans at the MCG for the Saturday night AFL game, which was playing at roughly the same time, were glued to TV screens watching the Matildas battle France.
Common sense will also dictate that soccer will overtake other sporting codes.
Aussie rules football is played professionally only in Australia.
Netball predominantly attracts female players and Netball Australia seems to be one crisis away from financial ruin.
NRL is an east coast sport.
Some critics say cricket can be as exciting as watching paint dry.
Soccer is an international sport known for making global superstars.
While there have always been soccer heroes for young players to admire, the Matildas' success ensures that aspiring female players will have household names to look up to.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr plays for Chelsea.
Mary Fowler plays for Manchester City after moving from Montpellier in France.
Other Matildas players have also found success overseas or interstate, including the Goulburn Valley’s Cortnee Vine.
Soccer has a bigger scope, more opportunities and unites Australia more than other sports.
Considering the crowd numbers, public attention, as well as the money and success on offer, it’s natural that kids will start to look to soccer instead of other sporting codes.
Soccer in Australia began gaining traction in 2006, and with the Matildas’ success in 2023, it has almost certainly cemented its place as Australia’s future national sport.
The Matildas will play England on Wednesday, August 16 at 8pm.