The ACT government has a Matildas game up their sleeve, but they want to save it to maximise the crowds and impact of it.
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That means waiting until the COVID-19 crisis has been fully navigated before cashing in their IOU with Football Australia.
They owe the government that Matildas game as part of the agreement for providing $20 million to help build the Home of Football of Throsby - for which they tipped in another $9 million as part of this year's budget to fix the problems created by the creek running through the middle of the block.
It's hard to imagine getting any more impact than a Matildas clash against the world champion USA, but Football Australia announced on Thursday two friendlies against the Olympic Games bronze medallist would be played in Sydney and Newcastle at the end of the month.
ACT government easing of COVID restrictions mean Canberra Stadium would be back to full capacity by the time those friendlies were played - on November 27 and 30 respectively.
But the capital will have to continue to wait for Football Australia to pay up.
There is a feeling that wait could extend until after the Women's World Cup, which will be played in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
That's because the Matildas might prefer to only play at World Cup venues in the lead-up to the event.
The government opted not to bid for Cup games due to their cost, but there's a chance the ACT could be used as a training venue for one of the teams - based at Throsby.
They're unable to compete with other state governments, like NSW, in a bidding war for games.
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It's the first time the USA will play the Matildas in Australia since 2000 - then they played in Adelaide and Newcastle in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics - with the games scheduled for Sydney's Stadium Australia and Newcastle
They come hot on the heels of the recent clashes with Brazil at Parramatta Stadium as Tony Gustavsson's team continue their preparations for next year's Asian Cup and beyond.
Australia beat Brazil 3-1 in the first of those games, with the second ending up a 2-all draw - after the Matildas threw away a two-goal lead.
"This is a vital and final opportunity to see the players against an extremely high-quality nation before we select the final squad for the AFC Women's Asian Cup," Gustavsson said.
"Meeting the US women's national team on home soil will mark the sixth unique opponent in the top 10 that this team would have faced in 2021.
"With each match, we are continuing to get one day better as a team, and at the same time providing invaluable experience to the younger players in the roster."
Australia and the USA have a long-standing rivalry in the women's game and met in the Olympic bronze-medal clash in Tokyo, with the Americans claiming the honours.
Gustavsson also has a strong link to the USA team, having been an assistant coach from 2012 until the team's 2019 World Cup triumph in France. with AAP.