The Matildas captivated the nation – and changed the shape of sport in this country – at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, progressing to the third/fourth playoff. The atmosphere of the home tournament fuelled the Matildas as they advanced further in a World Cup than any Australian team had done before. Importantly, they also inspired the nation – young and old – with their deeds and determination.

It was the seismic sporting shift that transformed football in Australia, united the country, inspired the next generation of hopefuls and finally elevated women’s sport to a long-deserved national platform.

What the Matildas achieved in the lead-up to, and throughout the month-long FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, was nothing short of ground-breaking.

It was, as so many pundits said, a ‘shifting of the goalposts’ both for the world game in Australia, but also for women’s sport as a whole, in a spectacular legacy moment long overdue.

As former Socceroo Craig Foster said at the time: “We are not so much watching a national team compete, as a changing nation at play.”

They didn’t quite win the medal they had hoped for, but the Matildas – or the ‘Tillies’ as we called them – rode a wave of local support to become the nation’s most talked-about and most loved national team.

It was fitting that the slogan for Australia’s bid for the 2023 Women’s World Cup was tagged:  ‘As One’.

For the Matildas united as one, and the nation did as well, behind their charge into the national consciousness and into our hearts.

They had to do it the hard way too, when star captain Sam Kerr missed the early part of the tournament due to injury, but the rest of the team rose to the occasion.

By the end of it, the names and deeds of Mackenzie Arnold, Mary Fowler, Cortnee Vine and co, became instantly recognisable.

The home side defeated Ireland 1-0 in their first match, but a 2-3 loss to Nigeria put the Matildas on the cusp of elimination from the tournament.

Then came a strong fightback in a 4-0 win over Canada.

The longer the competition went on, the better the Matildas performed. They made the round of 16 where they scored a 2-0 victory over Denmark pushing them into the quarter-finals.

What followed was one of the most remarkable moments in the history of Australian sport, a nil-all draw against France before a nail-biting penalty shootout that had the nation on the edge of their seats.

The shootout ebbed and flowed, with goals and near-misses, before substitute Cortnee Vine converted to give the Matildas a 7-6 victory, advancing them to a semi-final showdown against England.

A nation dared to dream.

Politicians even floated the idea of a national public holiday if the Matildas were to win gold.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, as the English team proved too strong, winning 3-1, before Sweden won the bronze medal playoff 2-0 to end the Matildas’ wild ride.

But on every measuring point, the tournament was a spectacular success, as was the performance of the home side.

It turned out to be the most highly-attended Women’s World Cup final in history, with the Matildas helping to bring about record television ratings in Australia.

More than four million people watched Australia’s quarter-final clash with France.

Then an average of 7.13 million – and a peak of 11.15 million – made the clash with England the most watched television program since the current measurement was introduced in 2001.

Such was the Matildas’ reach that even the AFL delayed the start of the Carlton-Melbourne game to accommodate the interest, something which is unheard of in terms of a rival sport.

And the Matildas’ popularity was so great that their playing kits outsold the Socceroos’ kit for the first time, as they inspired a generation of young girls to start chasing their own dreams.

After the tournament, the Federal Government committed $200 million for women’s sport off the back of the Matildas’ success.

The Matildas wanted two things leading into the tournament … They wanted to win a medal and they were determined to leave a legacy.

Sadly, the medal did not eventuate, even though they came close. That will drive them on as a team. But the legacies left from their achievements in 2023 will live on long beyond their own playing careers.

Photo Courtesy: Kyoko Kurihara/Football Australia