Young Matildas to train at new State Centre of Football in Adelaide

Adelaide will host a Young Matildas training camp at the new $24m football centre under construction at Gepps Cross in the lead-up to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Adelaide had already been selected as a host city for the 2023 tournament, with matches to be played at Coopers Stadium, which is currently undergoing a $53 million redevelopment.

The South Australian Government is investing $24 million in the State Centre of Football at Gepps Cross taking the venue to elite sports-hub standard. The Young Matildas will hold a training camp in mid-2022 to help officially open the new state-of-the-art facility.

Once complete, the facility will boast a show pitch with a 1000-seat grandstand and standing room for an additional 4000 spectators, a two-storey administration and function centre for Football SA, two full size synthetic floodlit training pitches, gymnasium, change rooms and 10 outdoor five-a-side pitches.

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Corey Wingard said “being able to offer Adelaide as a training destination for the Young Matildas proves to the world South Australia is open for sporting business.”

“We’ve already been selected as one of the host cities for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup putting us in front of a massive international audience and showcasing women’s football to the world.

“Now to be able to welcome the Young Matildas to our great state in the lead up will only help cement SA as a go-to sporting destination.

“Football is a sport that is growing rapidly in popularity as evidenced by the heartfelt reaction right here in Adelaide to the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship final just this week.

“Excitement around the sport is only going to continue to grow as we edge toward the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

Football SA boss Michael Carter labelled the project a “game changer”. “It will provide a home for the aspiration of the boys and girls for the game,” he said.

Mr Carter revealed he had been in talks with Adelaide United about hosting its local National Premier League games at the $24m hub, as well as trial games with A-League clubs.

“The venue is going to be capable of hosting events from the junior players right up through to the professional players,” he said.