Matildas support backs ACT govt's World Cup snub: Yvette Berry

The Matildas' 3-1 victory over New Zealand was played in front of 13,077 fans at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night.

It was brought to Canberra as part of the ACT government's deal with Football Australia to build the $33.5 million Throsby Home of Football.

But, in 2019, the government opted out of being part of the Australian and New Zealand bid to host the 2023 World Cup.

Instead, games will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, with the final held in Sydney.

It was hoped Canberra could still become a training base for international teams in the lead-up to the World Cup, but it wasn't on the list of 13 training venues announced in February - all of which were in the five Australian host cities.

That means Canberra kids will be starved of World Cup action when one of the biggest shows on earth comes Down Under mid next year.

But Berry insisted the support for the Matildas backed their approach of instead luring the national team to the capital.

She felt there wouldn't have been the same response if they had've hosted World Cup games that didn't feature the Aussies.

That's despite Canberra featuring two sellouts during the men's 2016 Asian Cup - neither of which involved the Socceroos.

"The attendance at [Tuesday] night's Matildas game was fantastic - supporting the ACT government's prioritisation of regular content featuring our national team, as opposed to the potential of World Cup pool games featuring non-Australian teams," Berry told The Canberra Times.

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She said they would continue talks with Football Australia to bring the Matildas back to Canberra in the future, although she didn't reveal when that might be.

The game against the Football Ferns ended an almost 10-year drought since the Australian women's side last played in the ACT - they had two games against New Zealand in Canberra in 2013, one of which was for the Centenary Cup.

She also said they would continue to try and attract men's national teams to Canberra as well - provided it was "at a reasonable cost to the ACT taxpayer".

"Yes. This will continue to be the focus of our ongoing discussions with [Football Australia]," Berry said when asked plans for more women's internationals.

Berry said their focus was also on supporting A-League Women's team Canberra United.

"As is the case for all sporting codes, our focus continues to be our ongoing commitment to supporting local teams," she said.

"The ACT government will continue to support our local women's football team Canberra United."