Matildas to play 2023 Women's World Cup co-hosts New Zealand in April friendlies

As preparations for next year's Women's World Cup continue, Football Australia has announced that the Matildas are set to face tournament co-hosts New Zealand in a two-game home friendly series in April.

It will be the first time Australia's women's national team have played on home soil since their friendly series against the USA last November, and the first time they have gathered since being bundled out of February's Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage.

While the location of the first friendly on April 8 is yet to be confirmed, FA confirmed that the second game would take place at Canberra's GIO Stadium on April 12.

The Matildas have not played a match in the nation's capital since the 2013 Centenary Cup, when they defeated their Tasman rivals in a penalty shoot-out.

Despite withdrawing from the bid to host Women's World Cup matches, the ACT has a long history of growing women's football and remains a key stakeholder in its future development.

It is currently home to the A-League's only all-women's club, Canberra United, as well as one of Australia's only girls' academies.

«It's exciting to return to the capital for an international fixture,» FA CEO James Johnson said.

«The ACT has a strong history of producing women's national team players including names like Lydia Williams, Caitlin Munoz, Amy Wilson and Julie Murray, and watching in the stands could be the next generation of Matildas to follow in their footsteps.

»We want to provide the football community and as many Australians as possible the opportunity to watch the Matildas on home soil while we continue our preparations for the Women's World Cup."

New Zealand is the Matildas' most-played opponent at international level, and was the nation Australia faced in their