‘Not a realistic option’: Why the Matildas aren’t playing at the MCG

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As more than 50,000 cheered the Matildas to victory in their pre-World Cup friendly against France at Marvel Stadium last Friday, visions of 80,000 or even 100,000 for a match at the MCG in the tournament-proper would have danced in the minds of soccer authorities, knowing all the while they could never have been realised.

The Matildas’ only scheduled appearance in Melbourne in the tournament, against Canada on July 31, will be at AAMI Park – known for the purposes of the World Cup as Melbourne Rectangular Stadium – whose capacity is 30,000. There will be three other group matches and two round-of-16 matches there, but none will feature the Matildas.

The MCG and Marvel Stadium were off limits because of a longstanding FIFA regulation that a World Cup venue must be exclusively available for soccer for a period beginning two weeks before the tournament and ending a week afterwards, making seven weeks in all.

This would have dislodged the AFL from those grounds for seven weeks, as well as a Bledisloe Cup match on July 29 at which 70,000 are expected. FA was not in a position to foot the bill for relocation and the AFL was not willing to disrupt its season.

FA knew this, and negotiations between the FA, the AFL – which owns Marvel Stadium – and the MCG did not proceed much beyond the polite inquiries stage.

“We have a track record of supporting major events and major international sports being played where we can,” an AFL spokesman said, “but putting on hold the AFL season for more than two months was not a realistic option given the impact on our clubs, players and supporters.”

The Matildas celebrate their winning goal against France at Marvel Stadium.Credit: Getty Images.

Ditto the MCC. “The MCG is committed to showcasing and celebrating the achievements of Australia’s women’s sporting teams … but as a venue for hire, we acknowledge that each major sporting event has specific requirements that must be met,” said chief executive Stuart Fox.

“The MCG is well equipped to host major events, and we are hopeful that being part of a prestigious event such as the FIFA women’s World Cup can remain a possibility in the future.”

FIFA’s insistence on exclusive access – reasonable on its own terms – also means that Perth’s 60,000 capacity Optus Stadium is off limits for the World Cup.

AAMI Park during and A League men’s match.Credit: Getty Images

For some fans, there is consolation in the fact that soccer does not lend itself readily to round or oval venues anyway. In their eyes, you can’t put a square game into a round ground. Of the 10 stadiums staging World Cup matches across Australia and New Zealand, only two are not rectangular by design. One is Stadium Australia, where the opening match and the final will be played.

Striking a World Cup balance would have been tricky for organisers and promoters. The Matildas are a huge drawcard, but none of the other three group matches set down for Melbourne are likely to attract sell-out crowds, and the identity of the teams for the round of 16 matches is not yet known, of course.

Nonetheless, a CEO can only dream. The Australia-France warm-up game was played at Marvel Stadium because it was not part of the tournament proper. FA chief executive James Johnson was there earlier in the day for a meeting.

“I remember speaking to the lovely lady who was picking up general inquiries when I went into their boardroom meeting,” Johnson said, “and she said she’s never had so many phone calls during a day looking for tickets.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr mingles with soccer fans after the World Cup send-off game against France at Marvel Stadium last week.Credit: Getty Images

“So I’m sure we would’ve got more tickets had we played at a bigger stadium like the MCG. It wasn’t to be, we went with the biggest stadium we could find in Melbourne, and it was part of a package that we’d agreed with the Victorian government that was linked to the home of the Matildas.

“The Matildas would be in Melbourne and they would train at the home of the Matildas and then play the farewell match there. So it was the best option that we had, and we were very happy with it.”

FA’s informal position is that Melbourne should have a bigger, dedicated rectangular stadium one day anyway. It will not have escaped long and rueful memories that when Marvel Stadium was first a twinkle in civic authorities’ eye late last century, it was to be rectangular and devoted to soccer, rugby and league.

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