The Matildas' World Cup Match Against England Will Screen Live in King George Square

When World Cup fever last swept Australia at the end of 2022, there were scenes. Public spaces around the country — including the Queen Street Mall and King George Square — turned into viewing sites so that Aussies could come together to watch the Socceroos. And, as plenty of photos and videos of jam-packed crowds showed, gather we all did.

2023's Women's World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia, which means that official FIFA fan festivals playing every game live have popped up in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. But, now that the Matildas are into the semi finals, facing off against England at 8pm on Wednesday, August 16, one space per city isn't quite enough. In Brissie, that means heading back to King George Square again, with the Brisbane City Council announcing that the match will screen for free in the CBD spot.

Watch the @TheMatildas @FIFAWWC semi-final LIVE in King George Square. pic.twitter.com/GAL8ckJnD9

— Adrian Schrinner (@bne_lordmayor) August 14, 2023

Over at South Bank, the FIFA hub will of course still show the Matildas' showdown with the Lionesses — but now so will the patch of pavement outside Brisbane City Hall. The coverage at King George Square will start at 7.30pm on the Ekka public holiday, playing the Australian national women's soccer team's must-win bout to get into the World Cup decider.

More places to gather and watch the game may also be added. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner advised that, because "the Matildas' World Cup campaign has inspired an entire nation", the council is "looking at even more locations to add to the list of live sites so more people can come together to cheer them on".

John via Flickr

Whether or not you usually have even a passing interest in the world game, you'll appreciate the sense of occasion. The Matildas keep making Australian football history, already becoming the country's most successful team at the World Cup — and, with their last game against France in Brisbane over the weekend, notching up the nation's biggest TV sports event in a decade.

If Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Arnold, Mary Fowler and company beat England, they'll face Spain or Sweden in the World Cup decider. Even if they don't emerge victorious over the Lionesses, the third-place game against whoever loses between Spain or Sweden awaits — in Brisbane again. Either way, they'll keep smashing records, and treating soccer fans to a massive few days of football.

 

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The Matildas take on England at 8pm on Wednesday, August 16, with the match playing on the big screen in King George Square.

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website.

Top image: LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.