The CommBank Matildas are ready to play the first game of football in QCB Stadium, a historic encounter in Townsville with a national team playing in North Queensland.
This home international will be the first time the Australian women’s national team has ever played in Townsville, with the match set to be the first football fixture to be played at world-class QCB Stadium since it opened in 2020.
The stadium currently plays home to the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, with a training facility just next door that the team will utilise in their game preparations.
Australia and New Zealand have a rich history of playing one another on Australian soil, with Australia's first-ever "A" international match a game against our Trans Tasman rivals in Sydney in 1979.
Since that historic game, the pair have faced off 48 times, with the last time a 2-1 win in the opening game of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
New Zealand is Australia's most-played opponent at the international level, the second game of the two-match series marking the 50th "A" international match between the two sides.
The game will see the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ co-hosts face off as a teaser of what's to come next year in the biggest-ever Women's World Cup on home soil.
The teams are no strangers to one another, having played together in leagues across the world. Kyah Simon and Ria Percival play alongside one another for Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL. Remy Siemsen, Cortnee Vine and Paige Satchell lead to the line together at Sydney FC, while the Kiwi duo of Hannah Wilkinson and Rebekah Stott ply their trade at Melbourne City.
Australia's second game will see them make a much-anticipated return to Canberra, last playing in the nation's capital in 2013. McKellar Park played host to The Centenary Cup, with Australia winning on penalty kicks 4-2.
GIO Stadium hosted the Matildas back in 2009, a game against Italy in February of 2009, previously having hosted Australia during the 2000 Olympic Games.
QCB Stadium, since opening in 2020, has drawn major events. Hosting a sell-out State of Origin match, the first city in regional Australia to host the event.
Assistant coach Mel Andreatta, a Queensland native, is excited to deliver regional fans a game to remember between Australia and New Zealand.
"What we really want to do is put on a show for regional Queensland and give you something to be proud of," she said.
MATCH DETAILS
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v New Zealand
Friday, 8 April 2022
Venue: QCB Stadium, Townsville
Kick-Off: 7:45 pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+. Check your local tv guides.
Ticketing Details: Buy now!
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v New Zealand
Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-Off: 7.45 pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live and free on 10 Bold and simulcast on 10 Play and Paramount+.
Ticketing Details: Buy now!