Thousands of football fans marched over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday to mark 25 days before the Women’s World Cup starts in Australia and New Zealand.
Football’s governing body FIFA estimated around 4,000 braved chilly temperatures to take part in the early morning event on the famed bridge, which was temporarily closed to traffic.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand kick off the 32-team tournament on July 20 when the Matildas play Ireland in Sydney and the Football Ferns face Norway in Auckland.
FIFA says more than one million tickets have been sold for the 64 games in nine host cities, surpassing total sales for the 2019 World Cup in France.
FIFA official Rhiannon Martin told AFP she expected this year’s tournament would be a “milestone” for women’s football in Australia.
“We’ve seen how women’s football has developed here over the last years,” added Martin, who is head of FIFA Women’s World Cup.
FIFA has said each player at the World Cup will earn at least $30,000 USD, with the winners taking home $270,000 USD apiece.
Martin said the boost to the prize money pot showed that “women’s football is really being valued”.
James Johnson, chief executive of Football Australia, told AFP it “starts to bridge the gap” between prize money for the men’s and women’s World Cup.
“We still have a bit of work to do over the next four years, but being the World Cup where the lift occurred makes us very proud,” he added.
MORE NEWS
Another Saudi bombshell as Chelsea clean-out hits overdrive: PL Done Deals
‘Massive disappointment’: Messi opens up on dismal PSG flop after Miami move
US STAR SKIPS HIGH SCHOOL GRAD FOR WORLD CUP
The US women’s national team are favourites to claim a third-straight World Cup title, but coach Vlatko Andonovski has named a bold squad for the upcoming tournament after being hit by a raft of injuries.
Forwards Catarino Macario, Mallory Swanson and Christen Press, midfielder Sam Mewis, and standout centre-back duo Becky Sauerbrunn (captain) and Abby Dahlkemper are all missing.
Rose Lavelle is included but hasn’t played since April 8 as she recovers from a knee injury, while Julie Ertz has only returned the same month after maternity leave since 2021.
Matildas name provisional World Cup team | 01:06
While there are some veterans – Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara and Megan Rapinoe will be playing in their fourth Cups – fourteen of the 23 players will be competing in their first World Cup.
25-year-old midfielder Savannah DeMelo has never played for the USWNT, the first uncapped player to reach a USWNT roster since 2003.
And 18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson is enjoying her stunning rise, becoming the second-youngest player to be named in a US World Cup squad in history.
Thompson played for the US in the U-20 World Cup just last year before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NWSL Draft in January.
After being named to the team, her reaction was incredible.
“I missed my graduation but I’m going to the World Cup, so it’s give and take. It’s honestly crazy to me because it was just two weeks ago that I graduated,” she said.
FULL USWNT SQUAD
Goalkeepers (3): Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury
Defenders (7): Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Alana Cook, Emily Sonnett, Kelley O’Hara, Sofia Huerta
Midfielders (7): Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Savannah DeMelo, Ashley Sanchez, Kristie Mewis
Forwards (6): Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Megan Rapinoe, Alyssa Thompson, Lynn Williams
