Women’s Asian Cup: Participation at grassroots level still booming after Matildas’ Women’s World Cup exploits

More than two years after they stormed into the semifinals of a World Cup on home soil, the Matildas’ halo effect is still permeating grassroots level in captain Sam Kerr’s own backyard. As Perth prepares to host the Australian soccer stars for the opening game of their second major tournament on home soil since 2023, participation numbers continue to swell. Perth has come down with a case of Matildas fever in the lead-up to their opening game of the Women’s Asian Cup against The Philippines at Optus Stadium on Sunday. And the only prescription for afflicted fans appears to be a dose of getting involved in the game at local level, as Australia’s run to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup continues to inspire a flood of young girls and boys. Among the tens of thousands of fans expected at Optus Stadium on Sunday will be 13-year-old Marissa Jones, who is just getting started on her own football journey. “I used to watch the Matildas with my dad at home, and then watch the players in the A-League, and have been to every game I can, so I’ve been following them all my life,” she told The West Australian. “I love every single player. Sam Kerr was always a favourite, but Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso have joined her. “I’m super excited to go see them and go support them down at Optus.” Having recently joined Perth RedStar’s under-15’s, she has seen firsthand how the Matildas success has taken her and those around her to new levels. “A lot of my friends were into soccer, and I kept saying to them to come join a club, come play with me, come to the game,” she said. “But it wasn’t until the World Cup that they actually did, and now they’re playing really well as well as making me better too. “My ultimate dream is to one day be out there on Optus, that’s what I’m pushing myself to get to one day, to play for Australia and give my shirt to that one lucky person in the crowd so they can have that inspiration to push themselves.” For Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry, the impact their success has had on the next generation never gets old. “It’s such a privilege and something we hold close to our heart,” she said. “It’s been so special to watch the growth in women’s football, the young kids coming to our game, the turnout we had, and to host a tournament like this is going to be incredible. “As an older player, you always reflect on the journey that’s been. When I first put on the national team jersey, there was only a couple hundred people in the crowd and now we sell out most of our games. “It’s pretty incredible to reflect on that career and see the growth in in women’s football in Australia, to know we’ve kind of paved the way for the next generation to come through it and not have to break down the barriers we had to.” Business is booming for local governing body Football West. The 2024 season, the first after the Women’s World Cup, was the first time they passed 50,000 registrations and included more than 10,000 female players — also a record. “When we talk about sustaining the hype and success, participation of female football is stronger than it has ever been by far,” Football West chief executive Jamie Harnwell told The West Australian. “We’ve seen over 30, 40 per cent increase in female participation since the Women’s World Cup, and that has continued to grow. “That’s been a direct result of such a high profile event here, how successful the Matildas were in the role models that these young players in particular could see.” Harnwell hoped the timing of the Asian Cup would provide another boost to registrations, with the tournament dovetailing into the start of the local season at junior and senior level. “We’re coming into peak registration season. We’ve got this fantastic tournament that is opening people’s eyes, right as girls are deciding which sport they might want to play, when women are deciding what to do,” he said. “While the Women’s World Cup was great, it was held later in the year when people were already involved in the game and some had to wait to the following year to actually register. “Whereas this provides an opportune moment for people to jump into the game straight away off the back of this high profile event.” While numbers are on the up, Football West are still campaigning for requisite, female-friendly facilities and change rooms (self-contained shower cubicles with lockable privacy screens) to keep up with the growth. The organisation’s 2024 State Facility Report found 58 per cent of facilities in WA do not have female-friendly change rooms and 52 per cent do not have female-friendly match official rooms, while 54 per cent do not have adequate shower facilities, 44 per cent do not have adequate lighting and 27 per cent do not have any lighting. While the State Government has provided funding before and after the Women’s World Cup to meet the shortfall, Football West female football and advocacy manager Sarah Carroll hoped the Asian Cup would provide another boost. “Improving community and regional football infrastructure is essential to increasing female participation and providing the facilities for our growing players and what they deserve,” she said. “It’s important we have that available and it’s something that there it is still a shortfall on, but there’s definitely the space there for that to follow on with the growth, and it all ties in together.”