Perth's very own football mega star, Sam Kerr, is expected to lead the Matildas on home soil in matches across three days, as they push for a berth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games between 26 October and 1 November, 2023.

The Matildas will only play in Perth, Australia's sunniest capital city and centre of urban sophistication, as part of the Round 2 qualifiers. They have played in the city only once before – in a friendly match against Thailand in 2018, driving legions of football fans to the sparkling metropolis.

The games are part of Round 2 of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, for which the Matildas automatically progressed based on their high placing in the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers.

Australia was announced last week as the host nation for Group A of this round of the Asian Qualifiers, with six matches proudly brought to Perth by the State Government through Tourism WA.

The Australian squad will face off against Round 1 winners from IR Iran, Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines, with thousands expected to travel to WA to watch the three matches; supported by the recently launched new direct flight between Perth and Manila.

Six Round 2 games will take place in Perth overall, across three huge double-header days, with matches played back-to-back:

• Thursday 26 October: Australia vs Iran and Chinese Taipei vs Philippines;
• Sunday 29 October: Iran vs Chinese and Taipei Philippines vs Australia; and
• Wednesday 1 November: Australia v Chinese Taipei and Philippines vs Iran

The winning teams will take the two spots reserved for Asia in the Women's Olympic Football Tournament to be held at the Paris Olympics from 24 July – 10 August 2024. Twelve women's national teams from six continental confederations will compete overall.

The Asian qualifying round matches will follow five FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 matches in July and August at Perth Rectangular Stadium.

General public tickets for Round 2 matches will be available soon at www.matildas.com.au.

END

Background:

Please contact media@westernaustralia.com.au for further information, or if you are interested in visiting Western Australia to highlight Western Australia's calendar of events.

Visit www.tourism.wa.gov.au to view the 2023 Western Australia Media Kit for more inspiration on story ideas in the dream state.

Media contact:

Michael Millimaci, A/Public Relations Manager, Tourism Western Australia

P: 0474 172 469 I  E: media@westernaustralia.com

Sueanne McCumstie, A/Public Relations Manager, Tourism Western Australia

P: 0497 288 409 I  E: media@westernaustralia.com