Who are the Matildas?
The Matildas are Australia's national women's football (soccer) team. They reached the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which Australia co-hosted with New Zealand.
The team played its first international matches in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their nickname, chosen by public vote in 1995, comes from the song Waltzing Matilda.
The 2023 World Cup sparked huge national interest. The quarter-final against France, won on a marathon penalty shootout, was one of the most watched television broadcasts in Australian history.
Star players
Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler became household names.
The Matildas finished fourth at the 2023 World Cup after losing the third-place match to Sweden, their best result at the tournament.
Australia also hosted the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, adding to the boom in interest in women's football.
Off the field, the team has campaigned for equal pay and conditions, and in 2019 Football Australia agreed to a deal giving the Matildas and Socceroos an equal share of revenue. Their success has inspired a big rise in girls playing football across Australia.
Did You Know?
Matildas matches regularly sell out stadiums across Australia.