Aussies say Oi, Oi, Oi to Women’s World Cup

SYDNEY – The party began for football fan Ellena Ermogenous as soon as she stepped off the plane.

“There were fans everywhere, dressed in Australia jerseys, carrying flags and banners,” she recalled. “All travelling from other states to be part of the Women’s World Cup.”

But the sight that greeted her at Sydney Airport on the eve of the tournament, which kicked off in Australia and New Zealand on July 20, was merely a sign of things to come.

In the heart of the city – home to two of the 10 competition venues – constant reminders abound that the biggest tournament in women’s football has come to town.

Banners hang from every streetlight and livery adorns light rail vehicles with the tournament’s tag line, “Beyond Greatness”.

And the co-hosts, better known as the Matildas, are taking centre stage.

A bookstore has dedicated its window display to urging readers to “discover Sam Kerr’s incredible story”, while financial services firm Visa has peppered the city centre with advertisements “proudly supporting Australia’s No. 21”, right-back Ellie Carpenter.

Talismanic striker Kerr even has her own mural in Marrickville, a suburb some 7km from the Central Business District.

Such has been the level of support for the Matildas that even before a ball was kicked Down Under, they had sold more jerseys than their male counterparts managed during and since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“It’s good to see such massive hype around the Women’s World Cup when over the years, the main focus has always been on the men’s competition,” said Ermogenous, a Briton who has lived in Sydney for over 30 years.

Indeed, the buzz around the tournament is impossible to ignore – even for those not ordinarily of the footballing persuasion.

“My colleagues are all talking about it, but it’s especially interesting to see and hear the reactions of those who are not full-on football fans,” said sports and health educator Andrew Prentice, who recounted how he and a friend recently drove past a giant billboard featuring Matildas attacker Caitlin Foord.

“My friend pointed it out,” he said. “And he actually knew who she was!”

The Sydney native added that while excitement in the city had already been bubbling in the lead-up to the tournament, it truly boiled over when close to 40,000 fans descended on the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday to watch unfancied Jamaica stubbornly hold France to a goal-less draw.

“To me, that was probably a better indicator of the level of interest in the tournament than the Matildas’ opening game – although that was a fantastic crowd in its own right,” Prentice said, referring to the co-hosts’ 1-0 win over Ireland in front of a 75,784-strong crowd at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

It was the highest-ever attendance for a Matildas match, but their supporters were not the only ones in high spirits after the final whistle.

Defiant in defeat, Irish fans turned the 25-minute train ride back to the city centre into an impromptu sing-along session, belting out the likes of Robbie Williams’ 1997 hit Angels while throwing in a few friendly jibes aimed at the handful of bemused Australian supporters.

Fans do not need to travel far, or even buy a match ticket, to join the football party.

The Fifa Fan Festival in downtown Sydney is screening all 64 matches, and boasts a merchandise store and museum, while keeping supporters entertained with games, music acts and street food.

But the most eye-catching installation is the Fry-Thru, a 5m-tall restaurant shaped like a packet of French fries by tournament sponsor McDonald’s.

University student Isabella La Guzza visited the festival last weekend and is already planning a return.

“I’ll definitely be back,” she said. “After all, football is meant to be enjoyed while surrounded by people...

“There’s no better feeling than celebrating with others when your team scores.”

She will not be alone, with many matches – including the Matildas’ next two group-stage games in Brisbane and Melbourne – having been sold out for weeks.

“Getting a ticket is near impossible,” Prentice said. “They’re as rare as a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!”