Late to Matildas mania? Good luck finding merch
Latecomers to the Matildas’ bandwagon are increasingly out of luck when it comes to public displays of affection for the team that has captured the nation’s imagination.
Official team scarves were sold out on Tuesday at Rebel Sport outlets in Melbourne Central, Bourke Street Mall and Mid City in Sydney, staff said. One store had just one Matildas $115 home uniform left on the rack, and combined they had only a handful of away kits. Big W has no Matildas soccer balls left.
“Anything green and gold has just flown out the door. It’s been constant – almost every phone call we get is about the Matildas,” a Rebel employee said.
Good luck trying to find Matildas merch these days. Edwina Pickles
The Matildas’ epic victory over France at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night drew one of the biggest audiences since Cathy Freeman’s golden run at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, reaching an estimated 4.9 million people – not including hundreds of thousands of people who gathered to watch in stadiums, pubs and on outdoor screens across the country.
Their semi-final match against England at Stadium Australian in Sydney on Wednesday night could be even bigger.
Official partner Nike says the Matildas have sold 13 times more jerseys than during the last women’s World Cup in 2019, and demand is still running hot.
“This year’s tournament is a generational moment for sport and culture, and never has this been more strongly reflected than the past week,” Nike Pacific vice president and general manager Ashley Reade said.
“To see Australians of all ages rally around the Matildas is a catalysing time for women’s sport and these unprecedented jersey sales only cement their status as national icons. They continue to inspire us all with their captivating
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