The Matildas and Socceroos have previously achieved triumphs across Asia, but for the first time, three Australian footballers can now revel in the title of world champions.
Arsenal’s dynamic Aussie trio—Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, and Kyra Cooney-Cross—celebrated victory in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup final this past Sunday, with Foord’s decisive goal securing the championship.
From Shellharbour on New South Wales’ south coast, 31-year-old Foord has been a crucial part of Arsenal since 2020. She netted the Gunners’ third goal, leading them to a thrilling 3-2 win against Brazil’s Corinthians at their home ground, Emirates Stadium.
Looking forward to the Asian Cup next month, which will be hosted on their own turf, the Matildas, guided by Joe Montemurro, are expected to be strong contenders. Foord expressed her excitement about the victory, saying, “It’s a feeling I hope to experience often.”
“Lifting trophies today and in the Champions League has been incredible, and achieving that on an international platform would be a dream,” she remarked.
Caitlin Foord (pictured) is scored the match winning goal in the final of Arsenal’s Women’s Champions Cup triumph
Steph Catley (pictured) right) was a mainstay in Arsenal’s triumph
Young gun Kyra Cooney-Cross (pictured) is primed to star in the upcoming Asian Cup campaign
The Matildas clinched the Asian Cup title back in 2010, and the Socceroos followed with their victory in the men’s tournament in 2015.
Foord starred off the bench on Sunday, while defender Catley played the full 120 minutes of a gripping decider in which the South American champions twice levelled, with the second equaliser coming from a last-gasp penalty to force extra time.
Cooney-Cross, still returning to full fitness after a period of compassionate leave in Australia to be with her cancer-stricken mother, was an unused substitute.
She did play in Arsenal’s successful UEFA Champions League campaign, which earned them their place in this competition.
The Gunners beat African champions AS FAR, the team of the Moroccan military, 6-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final, while Corinthians, who were roared on by a large contingent of fans who brought the passion of Sao Paulo to the rain-drenched English capital, defeated US champs FC Gotham in their semi.
Arsenal opened the scoring after 14 minutes through Canadian striker Olivia Smith, who followed up after Lele had saved a Stina Blackstenius shot.
Seven minutes later Corinthians stunned their hosts. After Duda Sampaio had a drive tipped over the bar 40-year-old veteran Gabi Zanotti headed in from the resultant corner, skimming in off an unfortunate Catley.
Lele made a string of saves but was finally beaten by Lotte Wubben-Moy’s 59th-minute header and Foord thought she had settled it in the 75th, but a defender’s desperate lunge turned her shot against the bar.
Instead Vic Albuquerque scored a last-gasp penalty, awarded on a VAR review, to force extra time.
But Foord would not be denied her moment.
Late in the first period of extra time Frida Maanum stole midfield possession and Arsenal broke. Foord stayed onside, received the Norwegian’s pass, and drove her shot inside Lele’s near post.
“Frida did really well to drive up the line then slip me in,” said Foord.
“It felt like forever waiting for (the pass) but she picked the perfect time to play me in. The keeper was off her line a bit so I took a chance and it went in.”
The only previous Australian to attain soccer world champion status is Mark Bosnich, who kept goal for Manchester United when they won the Intercontinental Cup, the then annual competition between European and South American champions, in 1999.
However, that event was not recognised by FIFA at the time and only featured clubs from two continents. In 2016 the world governing body retrospectively designated the winners as world champions.
The new competition features the six continental champions and will run annually, except in years involving the quadrennial 16-club Women’s Club World Cup, which is due to launch in 2028.
Australian champions Melbourne City, who were a penalty shootout loss from qualifying for this event via last year’s Asian Champions League, are at the quarter-final stage of this season’s ACL.
