Suncorp Stadium to host festival of international football
The Socceroos will play their farewell game at Suncorp Stadium in September before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the Matildas to also play at the Brisbane venue earlier in the month.
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Matildas and Socceroos were predicted to deliver $10 million for Queensland’s visitor economy.
“We’re excited to secure both the Matildas and the Socceroos for a September festival of international football in Queensland,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“This will be a terrific opportunity to see both teams live and at the top of their game ahead of FIFA World Cup appearances.
“Not only is Suncorp Stadium the world’s best rectangular stadium, it will also be a magnet for more than 8,000 interstate football fans and up to 17,000 Queenslanders from outside of Brisbane.
“The Matildas and Socceroos are a significant winner for Brisbane’s visitor economy with a $10 million bonus for local tourism and hospitality operators.”
Australia’s national women’s football team, the Matildas, will take on Canada on September 3. Canada is a Tokyo Olympic Games champion and currently ranked number six in the world.
The men will follow later in the month on September 22, when the Socceroos clash with New Zealand’s All Whites at Suncorp Stadium.
The Socceroos will then head over to New Zealand to take on the All Whites in the return game at Auckland's Eden Park on September 25, while the Matildas will play the historic first football game at the new Allianz Stadium on September 6.
“New Zealand and the Socceroos in Brisbane is an important event for both countries, marking a century since the southern hemisphere’s first international football match in Dunedin,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“This year, Australia celebrates 100 years of the men’s national football team, now known globally as the Socceroos.
“We’ve secured these major football events for Queensland’s first-class line up of international sporting events on our green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032.”
Brisbane will host a jam-packed month of Australian football in September! @TheMatildas kick off the action against Canada on the 3rd and the @Socceroos play their final game in Australia on the 22nd, prior to contesting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™! pic.twitter.com/Kxm594H42E
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) July 5, 2022
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said there had never been a more exciting time for Australian football.
“To be able to have both our senior national teams playing in the same city, at the same venue and during the same month is very special,” Mr Johnson said.
“Football fans from across Australia will converge on the Queensland capital to take up the opportunity to see Australia’s best footballers prepare for their respective FIFA World Cups.
“Queensland was well represented in the very first men’s national team and we are delighted to honour that connection through this Centenary match at Suncorp Stadium.
“We look forward to delivering two memorable matches.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said, “These historic football matches come just one year out from the world’s largest women’s sporting event, with eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches to be hosted by Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in 2023.”
Tickets to both games will go on sale at 1:00pm AEST on Friday, 15 July, through Ticketek. Two-match packages are also available.
Queensland will also host three marquee football matches later this month, featuring English Premier League sides Leeds United and Aston Villa, with three matches to be played in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville.
Football Matches in Queensland
July 14: Leeds United v Brisbane Roar – Cbus Super Stadium
July 17: Aston Villa v Leeds United – Suncorp Stadium
July 20: Aston Villa v Brisbane Roar – QLD Country Bank Stadium
Sept 3: Matildas v Canada – Suncorp Stadium
Sept 22: Socceroos v New Zealand – Suncorp Stadium
Other international teams touring Australia this off-season include Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Everton and Celtic. View all upcoming matches here >
