Matildas to learn Cup fate

THE mammoth challenge awaiting the Matildas as they gun for Australia’s first football World Cup triumph will become clearer this weekend.

Australia will be plucked out of the hat in Paris tomorrow morning (Qld time) alongside their group stage opponents at the Women’s World Cup next year in France. As a seed, the Matildas will avoid world champions and hosts United States as well as powerhouses Germany, England and Canada.

But there are other massive challenges like European champions Netherlands, Scandinavian giants Norway and Sweden, and the unpredictable Brazil.

“It’s exciting but I actually genuinely don’t care who we get in our group,” coach Alen Stajcic said. “I know all the teams there, we’ve played against virtually all of them.

“They are all at a high level now, so it’s more just anticipation of seeing who we have to prepare against.”