In 2023, Australia was officially gripped by Matildas fever as our women's football team historically made the semi-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Sydney.
Now the ParaMatildas have gone one better, securing their spot in the 2024 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) Women's World Cup final.
The women's football team solidified their spot in the final for the second consecutive year after a 9-0 semi-final victory over Denmark overnight in the tournament in Spain.
They will now face the USA in the final for the second time, hoping to become the first Australian national football side to win a World Cup.
The USA beat the ParaMatildas 4-2 in the final of the first-ever IFCPF Women's World Cup in 2022.
When is the World Cup Final and how can I watch it?
Prep the coffee and get ready for a long night.
The IFCPF Women's World Cup 2024 final will kick off at 12.30am on Wednesday. That means you'll be in for a late night tonight.
You can stream the game live and free at
.
ParaMatildas player Carly Salmon hopes the success of the football team can get "Australia on board". Source: Getty / Kelly Defina
Who are the ParaMatildas?
The ParaMatildas are Australia's national football team for women and girls with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and symptoms of stroke.
They're currently ranked No. 1 in the world.
"It's such a new team," ParaMatildas player Carly Salmon told SBS News late last year.
"But we're getting our names out there now. Hopefully, that means we can only grow, get more girls involved – and get Australia on board."
Football Australia launched the ParaMatildas program in March 2022. The men's Pararoos program was formed ahead of the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.
General manager for Disability Sport Australia, Ayden Shaw, said the ParaMatildas' success is a "landmark moment" for para sport in Australia.
"Everyone always hears of the Paralympics. But now we're hearing so many great stories of other sports opportunities and different teams that have those pathways for people with disability," he said.
"I think for a lot of people, it's a landmark moment to know this sport exists, that there are opportunities out there — and we're actually really good at it."
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