Soccer Football - FIFA Women?s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Quarter Final - Australia v France - Brisbane Stadium , Brisbane, Australia - August 12, 2023 Australia's Mackenzie Arnold and teammates celebrate winning the match after a penalty shootout REUTERS/Dan Peled/File photoSYDNEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday backed calls for a public holiday if its team win the Women's World Cup.
They play European champions England in Sydney on Wednesday in a match likely to smash Australian TV viewing figures for a soccer game.
Chris Minns, the leader of country' most populous state of New South Wales, on Monday pledged to declare a public holiday within a week of the final if the Matildas win.
But the Matildas' World Cup matches have sold out months in advance, with millions watching at home in numbers not seen since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Mackenzie Arnold, Dan Peled, Anthony Albanese, I've, it's, " Albanese, Albanese, Chris Minns, Bob Hawke, Alasdair Pal, Peter Rutherford
Organizations:
Soccer Football, FIFA, Brisbane, Australia, New Zealand, France, England, ABC, Soccer, Sydney Olympics, Australian, Thomson
Locations:
New Zealand, Australia, France, Brisbane, SYDNEY, Sydney, New South Wales