Matildas and New Zealand Prepare for an Exciting Friendly Showdown

In only a couple of days time, the Matildas will host the Football Ferns in a two-match friendly series that has drawn keen interest from fans across Australia and New Zealand. The first game is scheduled for Friday 28 November 2025 at polytec Stadium in Gosford on the NSW Central Coast — a venue that brings elite women’s football beyond the major capital cities, offering regional fans a rare chance to see top-level international football close to home.

The second match will take place in Adelaide at Coopers Stadium on Tuesday 2 December.

This series arrives at a pivotal moment for the Matildas. With the impending AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 on home soil, these friendlies serve as a critical stepping-stone. The matches provide a chance for the team to sharpen tactics, build chemistry, and gain match fitness under competitive but lower-stakes conditions.

The Weight of History Between Two Nations

The Matildas and the Football Ferns share a long and storied rivalry that stretches back decades. Their first full international encounter came in 1979, and ever since, the fixtures between Australia and New Zealand in women’s football have carried significance beyond the scoreboard.

Having met more than fifty times at the top international level, Australia has held the advantage for much of the rivalry, with the Matildas repeatedly proving too strong for the Football Ferns on numerous occasions.

Yet despite that dominance, each match retains fresh relevance: no matter past results, any contest between these two teams renews the rivalry, fuels competitive fire, and draws in fans on both sides of the Tasman. There is a sense of respect, genetic-rivalry, and regional pride that underpins every encounter, which makes these friendlies more than just practice games — they matter.

What to Expect: Atmosphere, Purpose and Significance

The setting at polytec Stadium promises to be special. Bringing world-class women’s football to the Central Coast acknowledges the depth of Australia’s interest in the women’s game beyond the biggest cities. For local fans — families, grassroots players, young girls with sporting dreams — it’s a rare opportunity to watch their national team live. For the region, the event also brings an economic and community boost, highlighting the role sport plays in uniting communities and drawing visitors.

On the pitch, the friendly series offers a strategic launchpad for the Matildas. Coaching staff will likely use these matches to test squad depth, experiment with combinations, and integrate emerging talents — all while building momentum toward major tournaments. For the Football Ferns, the series provides a valuable benchmark: facing one of the strongest teams in the region under the spotlight helps assess progress and measure readiness on the international stage.

Even if the matches don’t carry tournament stakes, the quality of competition, the stakes of national pride, and the context — as part of a long rivalry — ensures they feel very meaningful.

What the Rivalry Means for Women’s Football

Over decades, the Matildas–Ferns rivalry has helped shape women’s football in Oceania. The early days saw these fixtures as some of the few opportunities for women to compete internationally. As the sport has grown, each encounter between the two sides has contributed to raising the profile, building fan engagement, and inspiring new generations of players.

Bringing the upcoming friendly series to different regions — from the Central Coast to Adelaide — continues that tradition of widening access and encouraging grassroots participation. Visibility matters: for young fans who may never have had the chance to see a senior international match in person, these games can spark aspirations. For communities outside major metropolitan centres, it’s a celebration of sport and representation.

A Moment to Watch, Support, and Celebrate

Fans should anticipate more than just 90 minutes of football. With the backdrop of this historic rivalry, the build-up to a major continental tournament, and the growing momentum behind women’s football, these friendlies represent much more: preparation, passion, pride, and possibility.

For supporters of both teams — long-time followers or new fans drawn in by recent growth of women’s soccer — the November/December series is a chance to witness top-level play, feel the intensity of rivalry, and be part of the evolving story of women’s sport in the region. As the Matildas and Football Ferns take to the field, it won’t just be about a friendly match. It will be about honouring the past, testing the present, and building toward the future.