Celebrating an Extraordinary Year: Football Australia's Accolades and Vision Post FIFA Women's World Cup | Football Australia

In an extraordinary year marked by the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, Football Australia is celebrating a series of prestigious accolades.

These achievements not only reflect Football Australia’s significant contributions to the sport, both on and off the field, but also underscore the governing body’s strategic vision, as articulated in the Football Australia’s XI Principles for the future of Australian football.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame – The Don Award

In a historic moment for Australian sports, the CommBank Matildas were honoured with the prestigious Don Award for 2023 by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on Friday, 1 December, commemorating the team’s remarkable journey to and during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™.

Named after the legendary Sir Donald Bradman AC, the highest honour in Australian sport recognises athletes and teams who have profoundly inspired the nation. Kyah Simon's acceptance of the award at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) symbolises not only their exceptional performance but also their contribution to elevating women's sport to a national stature.

In her pre-recorded acceptance speech on behalf of the team, CommBank Matildas’ vice-captain and captain during five of the team’s seven FIFA World Cup 2023 matches, Steph Catley said: “On behalf of the Matildas, we are incredibly honoured to be awarded the 2023 The Don Award. The great sporting moments the previous winners of The Don have created are etched into the psyche of many Australians, including my teammates and I, and are part of our collective Australian folklore.”

“Uniting and inspiring the nation was important to this team because when we were growing up what was possible was not