Canberra put its hand up to host the first Matildas home matches in almost 600 days, before Sydney won the bid, but Capital Football says it will get the two matches it was promised eventually.
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As part of the Throsby Home of Football project, which has ballooned out to a $33.5 million project - after the ACT government pledged an additional $9 million to overcome engineering problems caused by a creek running through the site - three games were promised.
The Socceroos played Nepal at Canberra Stadium in October 2019 but two matches, a Matildas game and Young Matildas fixture, still need to be played in the ACT under the partnership.
Capital Football board chairperson Fran Sankey said COVID-19 had turned the world on its head and sport was no different, with the Matildas' last match in Australia in March 2020.
"When I saw the announcement from Football Australia that the Matildas were coming back to Australia for October, and there was also the possibility of a game still to be confirmed, against the US in October, I certainly did put our hand up," she said.
"Because we do have a game that's over due to be played in Canberra, but at this time, the games will be played in Sydney. Some of the reason for that is certainly New South Wales is really the only state that's open for business for interstate travellers.
"We'll be looking at sometime in the future and hopefully next year with vaccination rates going up, international travel relaxing, there will be an opportunity next year and we'll continue to work with Football Australia and the ACT government on bringing the girls here."
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Two friendlies against Brazil in late October in Sydney will end the Matildas' 596-day game streak outside of Australia.
Due to nine-day international windows, Australian sides had been unable to return home for matches if a 14-day hotel quarantine was in place. However, FA has struck a deal with the NSW government to allow the Matildas to return for the fixture.
Sankey said hopefully next year would be an option for Canberra to host the two matches it was promised.
"The reality is 2023 is not that far away. We're still hopeful to be a base camp for the Women's World Cup for one of the teams," she said.
"As far as overseas countries go, I do know what we're capable of and hopefully they'll see the benefits of being in the nation's capital. That's something we really need to showcase to the world. We've got lots to offer here."
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
