FIFA Women’s World Cup

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

I acknowledge any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here with us today.

And I reaffirm the Australian Government's commitment to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full – Voice, Treaty and Truth.

I acknowledge

• Senator the Hon Nita Green and the Hon Bert Van-Manen MP, co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Football;
• Peter Khalil MP, Jerome Laxale MP; and
• Members of the diplomatic corps.

Including the Deputy High Commissioner from Nigeria and though it still hurts, congratulate her on the Super Falcon's win over the Matildas and their progression to the round of 16.

I'd also like to acknowledge Mark Falvo, Chief Operating Officer of Football Australia, and his team and I thank Football Australia bringing the Women's World Cup trophy to Canberra as part of the tour.

My hope is the Matildas go on to win so you can just leave the trophy here.

I am glad to be here to celebrate the success of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with friends from across the diplomatic corps.

We are only just moving from the group stages, and yet the 2023 World Cup is already an international success. 

A tournament hosted by two countries, featuring 32 nations from six continents, broadcast around the world.

One that has put on display a diverse range of national cultures, playing styles and stories.

A competition that has been the clearest demonstration of football as the world's game.

While the Women's World Cup is ongoing, there are already many important stories that have been told.

First and foremost, the global success of women's football.

With 32 teams competing this is the largest Women's World Cup ever, up from 24 teams in 2019.

Eight countries are playing in their first Women's World Cup:

• the Philippines (the Filipinas);
• Ireland (the Girls in Green);
• Zambia (the Copper Queens);
• Haiti (the Grenadieres);
• Vietnam (the Golden Star Women Warriors);
• Portugal (A seleccao das Quinas);
• Panama (the Canal Girls); and
• Morocco (the Atlas Lionesses).

We've seen record ticket sales, with more than 1.5 million sold.

Crowd sizes have been breaking records for women's sport too.

The attendance of 75,784 people at the Australia v Ireland match in Sydney was the largest-ever for a Matildas match and the ninth largest women's football attendance of all time.  

The crowds have not just turned out across Australia and New Zealand for the home teams; we have seen big crowds across matches.

While these headline numbers and figures are impressive, the individual stories from the 2023 Women's World Cup are even more compelling.

Stories of representation, of inclusion. Stories of courage and resilience.

Stories like that of Colombia's striker, Linda Caicedo, who scored the team's second goal in their match against Korea – the goal of the tournament for me so far.

Hers is a phenomenal story of resilience.

Linda was the first teenager to score in this tournament, and the first player to score from outside the box.

But, at age 15, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She thought her football career was over.

Over the past three years, Linda has battled to come back, and has been able to show that determination, along with her talent, to the world.

There is the story of Nouhaila Benzina, who plays for Morocco.

Nouhaila became the first player to wear the hijab at a Women's World Cup.

A decade ago, Nouhaila would not have been able to play in a World Cup, as the ban on head coverings was only lifted in 2014.  

Nouhaila showed to the women around the world who wear head coverings that football is for them.

That they can make it to the highest stage of football if they dream big and work hard. That they do not have to choose between their religion or culture and their love of football.

That is what inclusion is all about.

There have also been many stories of firsts at this Women's World Cup.

Jamaica's Reggae Girlz earning their first-ever Women's World Cup.

Morocco too recorded their first win at a Women's World Cup, as did the Philippines.

The Filipinas is a team I keep a close eye on, as they have two players from my local team Western United - Angela Beard and Jaclyn Sawicki.

This world cup also features the youngest player to ever play in a World Cup – women or men's – with South Korea's Casey Phair at 16 years and 26 days old.

These are stories that inspire us.

Stories that show how the world game can break down cultural barriers and foster understanding of different people and cultures.

But they also show what can happen when you give women and girls the space to succeed.

This is something Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke about at the Gender Equality Symposium held in Brisbane last week, when she said:

“… it was never women's capabilities or aspirations that limited their achievements. When space is made for women to succeed, they fill it, and create more space for others. And enrich their communities and countries in the process. This is why gender equality matters.”

The women and girls playing in this Women's World Cup have filled the space made by the advocates who came before them, and they are creating more space for coming generations.

The Gender Equality Symposium also highlighted that what happens when this space is taken away from women and girls.  

Khalida Popal, former captain of the Afghanistan women's team, told the story of her role in the foundation of the national women's team.

And how she was forced to flee Afghanistan, fearing for her life, because of that very role in the team's founding.

I met with the current members of the Afghanistan women's team, who live in exile in Melbourne.

I had a chance to train with them, to see their extraordinary skills on display.

To eat with them and hear about the ongoing risks to their safety.

We must not forget that gender equality is not a given.

We must continue to focus on gender equality, and to continue to build the space for women and girls to succeed.

When you see vision of young girls in the crowd at this Women's World Cup, there is much room for hope.

Whether they are roaring at a Mackenzie Arnold save or after Katie McCabe's 'olimpico', you know the space created for them by this World Cup is space that will be gratefully filled and expanded again.

And at the end of the day, that will be the most important story of this Women's World Cup, and its greatest success.

So, thank you all for joining us today.

Good luck to your various teams in the final stages.

But most importantly, go Matildas.