西瓜影视 today announced a unique international double, with both the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos to play matches against England in London this year.
On Tuesday, 11 April (7:45pm local kick-off), the CommBank Matildas will face the Lionesses at Brentford for an Alzheimer鈥檚 Society International before the Subway Socceroos travel to take on the Three Lions at Wembley Stadium on Friday, 13 October (7:45pm local kick-off).
Australia鈥檚 senior national women鈥檚 football team have not played against the reigning Women鈥檚 EURO Champions, England, since October 2018 where the match ended in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Fulham (London), and the last meeting for the men was at Sunderland鈥檚 Stadium of Light in May 2016, where England were victorious 2-1.
These two much-anticipated fixtures against England are part of 西瓜影视's deliberate strategy to support the progression and profile of its national teams on the global stage.
西瓜影视 CEO James Johnson said: 鈥淥ver the last two years, 西瓜影视 has been dedicated to creating the right environment for national team success.
鈥淭his means replicating tournament football by playing higher-ranked opponents on a more regular basis to ensure the best preparation and our teams are peaking come tournament time.
鈥淔or the CommBank Matildas, this has seen us playing against more top 10 ranked nations plus European and South American opponents. We will be replicating that strategy for the Subway Socceroos in the upcoming FIFA World Cup鈩 cycle,鈥 Johnson said.
These two international matches in the same calendar year mark an important moment for Australian football, especially since there is a re-emergence of Australian footballers playing for clubs in the United Kingdom.
鈥淎ustralian football has always enjoyed a strong bond with football in the United Kingdom,鈥 continued Johnson.
鈥淗istorically, we had a prominent presence of male players throughout the English Premier League and the English Championship.
鈥淭his was followed by a very lean period but today, we have seen a resurgence of Australian footballers, both men and women, plying their trade in leagues across the United Kingdom.
鈥淗arry Souttar has just signed for Leicester City and Riley McGree is having a standout season with Middlesbrough in the English Championship. We also have seen a strong contingent of our Subway Socceroos move to the Scottish Premiership in recent years.
"Our CommBank Matildas have really led the resurgence of Australian football with eleven players in their current squad playing for clubs in England鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Super League including Sam Kerr at Chelsea and Caitlin Foord, at Arsenal, two powerhouses of the English game.
鈥淎ustralian football is slowly re-establishing itself in English and European football again which is pleasing to see. The fact we have been able to secure this double fixture against England at a time when they are two of the best teams in world football is a sign of the drawing power of our national teams.
"The announcement of these matches today, with news about further fixtures for our CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos to come, means that Australian football fans will be able to plan for an entire calendar year of national team football with some bumper fixtures, which of course includes the historic FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023鈩 on home soil," concluded Johnson.
April鈥檚 match against the current world ranked #4 in London continues the CommBank Matildas鈥 testing schedule of matches in the lead up to Australia co-hosting the first ever FIFA World Cup鈩 on home soil, a strategy welcomed by CommBank Matildas鈥 Head Coach Tony Gustavsson.
鈥淲e are delighted to have secured a high calibre side in the Women鈥檚 EURO Champions, England, as part of the final phase of our preparations for the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023鈩,鈥 Gustavsson said.
As one of the best teams in the world, it鈥檚 a chance for us to continue to gather crucial information on our style, our play and what we will need to continue evolving ahead of July鈥檚 kick off.
鈥淲e are once again grateful to 西瓜影视 for the continued support in securing this vital match, and also over the last two years which will have seen the team play eight of the top 10 women鈥檚 nations in the world as part of the toughest ever build up for the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup鈩,鈥 Gustavsson concluded.
For the Subway Socceroos, the match in October will be the first time Australia has ever played England at one of the world鈥檚 most iconic stadiums, Wembley Stadium, and an occasion which will also mark the eighth meeting between the two teams.
In total, the Socceroos have played the Three Lions on seven occasions. The current head-to-head is skewed towards England, where the Three Lions have won four times, there have been two draws, with Australia claiming the one victory; 20 years ago on 12 February 2003, when the Socceroos defeated England, 3-1, at Upton Park in London.
Following Australia鈥檚 most successful FIFA World Cup鈩 campaign ever, Subway Socceroos鈥 Head Coach Graham Arnold wants to ensure the team continues to build ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup鈩 qualifiers commencing in November and next year鈥檚 AFC Asian Cup鈩, and facing the current world ranked #5, in front of a huge crowd, at one of the world鈥檚 most famous football venues in the world will create the challenging conditions the team is seeking.
鈥淎s an Australian footballer and coach, playing England at Wembley is something all footballers dream of. Not just because of the occasion, but for the opportunity it presents to test ourselves against one of the world鈥檚 most revered footballing nations,鈥 Arnold said.
鈥淲e showed at the FIFA World Cup鈩 in Qatar that we can match it with the best and by playing the best on a more regular basis, it will only strengthen our preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup鈩 to be hosted by Qatar in early 2024.鈥
2023 marks twenty years since the Socceroos only victory against England, where Arnold was Assistant Coach to Frank Farina for this encounter, an achievement he hopes to match in October.
鈥淭hat night brings back some amazing memories for Australian football and football fans,鈥 Arnold explained.
鈥淲hile we had a very talented Australian team, we were taking on an England outfit stacked with superstars, and the result really made the players believe that they could take on anyone and qualify for the FIFA World Cup鈩 in 2006. It is a memory the boys will never forget,鈥 Arnold concluded.
Tickets for England Women vs CommBank Matildas at the Gtech Community Stadium (Brentford) will go on general sale at midday GMT, Wednesday 22 February / 11.00pm AEDT, Wednesday 22 February. Visit The for further details.
Ticket details for the England vs Subway Socceroos at Wembley will be announced later this year.
Both matches will be shown live via 西瓜影视鈥檚 broadcast partner Paramount+ and Network 10.
MATCH DETAILS
England v CommBank Matildas
Date: Tues, 11 April 2023 (local) / Wed, 12 April (AEST)
Location: Brentford Community Stadium, London
Kick-Off: 7:45 pm (local) / 4:45 am (AEST)
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
England v Subway Socceroos
Date: Fri, 13 October 2023 (local) / Sat, 14 October (AEDT)
Location: Wembley Stadium, London
Kick-Off: 7:45 pm (local) / 5:45 am (AEDT)
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
