From my perspective, yes..... Huge eye opener to some (myself included) as to how far technical proficiency has come off the back of the Euro leagues, taking women's football to another level...  South American and African womens football is coming along nicely and the Japanese and the Matildas are representing Asia with pride.... Saddened that this may have been the last "chance" we get to compete in a WC final.... The UEFA juggernaut is going to dominate for the next few decades. 

In the  early  knock out stages the crowd averages were supposedly over 30 000.

By the final they must have been higher.

Thought it was brilliant! Women's football has come a long way in a short time.

However,  after visiting  another state and being in constant transit, and not having pay TV, I only saw France V Morocco and the final Spain V England, that didn't feature the Matildas.

If we had the FTA access that we had in the Qatar mens' WC, and something like the SBS app on SBS On Demand, it would have been a lot bigger again for domestic audiences in terms of awareness for the rest of the tournament outside the Australian fixtures.

And? Did we have fun? Attendance record beaten by 600k.

Heard a lot of fans say it was so nice to have cooler temperatures that the sweaty conditions of France 2019.

I love the argument that the government shouldn't do extra funding for women;'s sport...many of the same types have no problems with the government funding loss making ventures that appeal to a tiny market like the grand prix though

We would need to move away from the CBA pay scale and go to a more equitable performance based revenue share scheme for that to happen..... Would be interesting though.

FARKING YES

of course we are hosting - i wont say im 'super excited' but i will support the girls 

Why should they?

I wouldn't be against every sport getting the same but for that to happen the goverrnment wold probably have to fund it.

Female players are on centralised contracts ie football federation pays their basic pay and club tops it up with international match pay a bonus on top,

Yes

No more a Marxist than the average Aussie looking for a fair go Rusty, In fact not an _____-ist anything... I find that political labels, especially in this day and age just muddy the waters and people hide behind perceived identity rather than debate the topic at hand. 

I disagree with " the conversation clearly transcends mere economics and has become very political and ideological."  

It really doesn't mate, its as simple as being paid the same regardless of what is (or isn't) hanging between your legs... Full stop. If you want to link it to "value" then I sort of get your point but if we use this year as an example I would argue that the women's game is going to bring a hell of a lot more "value" to the sport in Australia this year with the WWC, number of Matildas games, broadcast income, merchandise and legacy programs than the Socceroos will with a couple of meaningless friendlies... Does that mean the girls should get paid more this year???

Then by extension pay parity for domestic football teams is an incentive for our women to push themselves further so they an make a living from the game... something they will be unable to do by  just playing local football.

Err no, pay parity is for the NT is not just an "incentive" so the few who can make it can make enough to scrap together a house deposit, it's rooted in ideology that men and women should be paid the same. 

The average ALW salary this season is 20,606. AFLW average salary last season was $46,280 (up 94% from 2021).

In 2025, the AFL (mens) TV deal goes up an extra $170 million per year to $643 million per season. This equates to about a 26% increase. I have no doubt in my mind that some of this money will flow through to the AFLW. The AFLPA will 100% push for this in the next EBA.

If the average AFLW salary goes up another 94% to around the $90,000 mark, then that might be enough for them to go fully professional. They have a target to go fully professional in 2026.

The ALW will never be able to compete with these dollars. But one thing football has over the AFL (same with the men) is the option to make bigger bucks in Europe, and to represent your national team.

You’re having a sook because you claim the women don’t deserve to get paid as much as the men. But you’re looking at it the wrong way. Pay parity for our national football teams is an incentive for our women to push themselves further so they can make a living from the game… something they will be unable to do by just playing domestic football.

I used to be extremely supportive of the Matildas, knowing most of the players by name and by sight. But after they knifed Stajcic in the back - particularly what the players did to him - I've lost interest in the Matildas. Their win-loss record ever since Stajcic was given the boot speaks for itself.

Good work!

I'm a teacher too.

I know many young women motivated to play football through meeting female football development officers in schools.

Yes true, But its even worse than that hypocritical.

Have we already forgotten what Lisa De Vanna and Alan Stajcic experience of "equality" and "fairness" and "inclusivity" was inside the Matilda's camp? They are representing us to the world....

Never pegged you as a marxist, mono. Some of it is unfortunately being  driven by a "each according to his need" mantra. The only way equality and fairness can be encapsulated is with equal nominal amounts on the balance sheet. Participation rates, cultural preferences, # games played, etc etc are just relics of misogynist patriarchal society and therefore dont enter the conversation. That's why FFA, USA and other federations have adopted equal outcome polices in regards to national team pay. It is INEVITABLE that soon the conversation will steer towards other forms, such as domestic competition. As we have seen here in League female state of original players receive the same as men. Its only the start. This will happen regardless of what happens at a grassroots level, because the conversation clearly transcends mere economics and has become very political and ideological. 

Oi, leave "hot-chips" out of it :)

It should be great for the sport here, after the Socceroos heroics the Matildas have a great chance to continue the momentum and grow the sport.

Im also looking forward to watching the standard of the tournament too, these are some of the best teams in the world in our own backyard.

I'm not reading all that mumbo jumbo above after Mono's kind words but I'd rather live in a society supporting women's physical fitness, health & wellbeing, promoting sports and teamwork than make-up mogul worshipping, eCeleb drama, TikTok trends, eating hot-chips and lying.

The Spartans were right.

LOL.   Spot on tho'

This a very sad reality Rusty.... Your right representing your nation on the world stage is not financially rewarded equally, depending on the sport. Reality is that you need money coming in to a sporting body before you can even look to reward achievement. In an ideal world ALL athletes deserve a living wage if they represent the country, regardless of sport or ability.... Reality is that without revenue from broadcasting or sponsorship Pararoos or Blind Football players dont get near enough financial support and rely on paltry government handouts and well meaning volunteers.
  
https://www.badminton.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/002-Badminton-Australia-2021-AGM-Annual-report.pdf
Badminton, as a small example, doesn't pay its international players (apart from employee expenses and travel etc) for example HOWEVER there doesn't seem to be ANY discrimination between male and female athletes.... Nor should there in a civilised society... 

If you cant bring yourself to understand that people being treated "equally and fairly" isnt some kind of Communist "plot" to destroy your way of life then there isnt much anyone can say to convince you otherwise I suppose.
If your struggling for funds (who isn't in these financial difficult times) Ill kick in a few bucks to help tide you over, as Im sure a few on here would also. (we all supposedly at least love the same sport so for that alone you deserve a bit of help :) )  Women aren't trying to get your hard earned cash mate, they are NOT a different species or even ethnicity (I know this one bugs you a fair bit) they are our mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, girlfriends ... co humans...... 

Ooh hard hitting retort there muz. Might  as well just tell me to go off to the jerk store.

”roosty go to the jerk store”

There I did it.

Its just too hard to say “people in wheelchairs who’ve suffered terrible injuries and challenges in life in live dont deserve the same amount of pay as privileged, entitled able bodies athletes” isnt it? Thats why we need Roosty’s of the world, to speak frankly and directly, rather than cowards like Muz who prefer to hide behind the veneer of virtue.

Lol.

I thought trickle down economics was the doctrine of free market neo liberals but apparently it's woke football federations.

Couldn't make this stuff up.

“ive explained my position…”
“youre trying to back me into a corner…”
”it aint happening!”
”did someone say KFC”

Nice cop out there muz. 

Usually most loudly promulgated by those who have unequal amount of wealth

Mate you've run this argument before. I've explained my position. The federations decide what they can pay based on their income.

You're trying to back me into a corner with ridiculous 'nth' degree-ism. It ain't happening.

Football pays equal pay and that's great. I know that upsets your sensibilities so maybe you need to pen a strongly worded letter to the editor.