It’s six months until the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ arrives on our shores.
And a handful of Brisbane Roar Liberty A-League squad members including Katrina Gorry, Larissa Curmmer, Indiah Paige Riley and Jamilla Rankin will be hoping to represent their country on the world stage.
It’s set to be an exciting festival of women’s football when matches kick off on 20 July and it marks the first time the tournament will see 32 teams compete to be crowned world champions with Morocco, Philippines, Vietnam and the Republic of Ireland set to make their World Cup debut.
Having represented Australia at the 2015 edition of the tournament as a 15-year-old, Larissa Crummer is looking forward to an opportunity to play the event on home soil.
“It’s always good to play in Australia and finally something is at home,” she said.
“Everyone strives for a World Cup but a World Cup at home is even better. I’m really excited if I can get there and I’m going to be working really hard.”
Young guns Indiah-Paige Riley and Jamilla Rankin will be hoping to earn their first World Cup cap when July rolls around.
Rankin, who made her Matildas debut in June 2022 against Spain, has established herself as a first-team regular and key figure in Roar’s defensive line over the last 12 months.
Dubbed a player to be a potential bolter for Australia’s squad, the 19-year-old can’t wait for the World Cup.
“I’m really excited the World Cup is coming to home soil, I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this country and the girls in this country,” she said.
“I think the attention it will bring to football will be deserved funding into women’s football in Australia and it will be exciting to see where it can go from there.”
Meanwhile, Riley, who previously represented Australia at both youth and senior levels, made the decision to commit her international career and switch to New Zealand last year, pulling on a Football Ferns jersey in a friendly against Mexico.
The 21-year-old recently made her return to the Roar after spending the last two seasons in Europe with Danish club Fortuna Hjorring.
Speaking ahead of the Football Ferns upcoming match against World No.1’s the United States, Riley was excited by the opportunity a World Cup would bring to Australia and New Zealand.
“We have games for New Zealand coming up against the US so that will be a good opportunity for us to see where we are against the number one team,” she said. “It is also good for them to come over and get a taste of Australia/New Zealand.
“It’s exciting times ahead.”
With over half a million tickets sold, the opening match for the first-ever co-hosted women’s tournament will take place at New Zealand’s Eden Park while Stadium Australia in Sydney has been selected to host the final a month later on 20 August.
