Kerr signals World Cup end
MATILDAS superstar Sam Kerr has revealed the 2023 Women’s World Cup could be her swansong in football should Australia win the right to host the showpiece tournament.
And the country has a genuine chance of being awarded the tournament after the Federal Government pledged an additional $4 million to Football Federation Australia to fund the bid.
Kerr, who would be 29 years old in five years’ time, said playing in a home World Cup would be the perfect end to her career.
“I think I’ll retire after that tournament, so to finish in a major tournament like the 2023 World Cup in Australia would be unreal and I know a lot of the girls are in the same boat, being around the same age as me,” Kerr said.
“Hopefully we can get it. Just to have a major tournament like that I think will really skyrocket the way Australia sees women’s sport.
“I think we have a really good chance of getting it with the recent success of the Matildas and the W-League.”
So much of the success of women’s football in Australia can be put down to the ‘Sam Kerr Effect’, which is why she is the face of FFA’s Female Football Week, beginning on Friday and incorporating International Women’s Day on March 8.
The aim of the campaign is to shine the spotlight on women in football and grow female participation at grassroot level – something Kerr has already been doing.
The 24-year-old has had a quite extraordinary year, winning just about every major individual award on offer including being named Young Australian of the Year.
She admits her life is drastically different to what it was like a year ago, but she has embraced the change.
“You learn along the way. It’s been a big change. My life’s probably changed completely but it’s been enjoyable,” she said. “This is what we’ve wanted for so many years, so it’s a welcome change.
“Everyone in the Matildas has noticed the change and I think the whole of Australia has really got behind the Matildas.