15 Nov 2022
The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hosted the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final on Sunday, which saw England win by five wickets against Pakistan for the first time since 2019.
Hailed as Australia's sports and cultural capital, Melbourne saw nearly 92,000 cricket fans gathered at the MCG yesterday – located in the city's sports precinct, conveniently located within a 15-minute walk from the Melbourne CBD (Central Business District). Known as 'The G', the MCG is the epicentre of Victorian sport and home to the Australian Sports Museum, featuring Australia's largest collection of sporting memorabilia.
The eighth edition of the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup has seen 45 matches and 16 teams playing over the month-long tournament. Over 340,000 tickets were sold for matches at the MCG, including yesterday's final.
Following on from the successful tournament, Melbourne's annual sporting calendar is packed with a plethora of live events and tournaments, catering to all sports enthusiasts. From the Australian Open in January, to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in March and in a world's first – the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in four cities and regions across Victoria, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland.
Sports fans interested in seeing their favourite teams playing Down Under should consider the following dates to plan their trips to Victoria:
Australian Open (16 to 29 January 2023)
Returning to Melbourne Park from 16 to 29 January 2023, the Australian Open is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments held each year, followed by the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. The 2023 Australian Open will be the event's 111th edition and will see appearances from major international tennis stars and icons. Held in the Australian summer season guests to the Australian Open can enjoy full access to all the off-court fun, including unique food and drink experiences, performances by renowned musicians and player activations.
www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/whats-on/sports/australian-open
F1 Australian Grand Prix (30 March – 2 April 2023)
The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will return once again next year to Melbourne's Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, from 30 March to 2 April. The event sees the world's fastest cars, coolest celebrities and latest technology converge on Melbourne for four days of unstoppable action. The motorsport extravaganza will see teams including Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren take to the tracks, in the race for podium position in the ever-thrilling racing competition. The 2023 line-up is still shaping up but it is expected that a Melbourne-born driver will be on the grid for the first time ever. www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/whats-on/sports/motor-sport/formula-1-australian-grand-prix-2022
FIFA Women's World Cup Australia / New Zealand (20 July – 20 August 2023)
The FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand is schedule to take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023 - the first-ever co-hosted women's tournament. 32 teams will compete in 64 matches across nine host cities and 10 stadiums – including Melbourne. Australia will be represented by the Westfield Matildas, ranked as the number one sporting team in Australia, who will play one of their group stage matches at AAMI Park. Fans and viewers can expect an incredible atmosphere from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Exclusive pre-sale ticket packages go on sale from 6 to 12 October for VISA cardholders, then from 13 to 21 October to the general public.
www.visitmelbourne.com/regions/melbourne/whats-on/sports/fifa-womens-world-cup
2026 Commonwealth Games (17-29 March 2026)
Further down the line but already much-anticipated on Victoria's sports calendar is the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Victorian edition will be a world-first, with a multi city model showcasing four regional hubs rather than one centralised location. These regional hubs will be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with their own athletes' village and sport programme. Melbourne was the first city in the southern hemisphere to host the Olympic Games in 1954 and it played host to the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The Games will officially kick-off at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (also known as “The G” by locals) on Sunday 17 March 2026.
