When is the Matildas first game at soccer World Cup 2023? Date, time when Australia open FIFA tournament
It is set to be a huge month for Australian football as the country prepares to co-host the Women's World Cup alongside neighbouring New Zealand.
Some of the world's biggest and best players will grace Australian shores in July and August, with 32 teams starting the tournament with dreams of the August 20 final in Sydney.
The Matildas are expected to be a contender, backed by passionate home fans following a strong run of form in recent months. The notable scalps have come against Spain, and against European champions England in London.
Led by coach Tony Gustavsson and superstar Sam Kerr, the Matildas will look to get off to a flying start in their opening match of the highly anticipated tournament.
Matildas final World Cup squad
The Matildas will begin their World Cup campaign with a clash against Women's World Cup debutants Republic of Ireland.
While Australia will be favourites due to homefield advantage and their world ranking 12 places above their opponents, Ireland were actually victorious over the Matildas the last time the sides met in 2021.
On that day, the Matildas went down 3-2 in Dublin despite Mary Fowler scoring twice in what was the first meeting between the sides.
It should be noted it was not a full strength Matildas side playing in that match, with a slew of debuts handed out by Gustavsson, something not to be repeated at the World Cup.
MORE: Projected attendance for first Matildas' first game
The Matildas' opening clash of the 2023 World Cup will take place on Thursday, July 20 at 8 p.m. local time.
While the clash is Australia's first at the tournament, it is not the opening game of the tournament as a whole, with co-hosts New Zealand kicking off the tournament hours earlier against Norway.
Below is a list of
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