Can Australia win the World Cup?

They face Ireland on Thursday, but the Matildas may well have bigger fish to fry.

HOME COMFORTS: Katrina Gorry of the Matildas celebrates with her teammates Sam Kerr and Elise Kellond-Knight. Pic: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

After defeating France 1-0 on Friday, the next time the Matildas take the field will be in front of 80,000 people at Stadium Australia for the first game of their 2023 Women’s World Cup against the Republic of Ireland. With another win over a European powerhouse under their belt, the question now is: can the Matildas actually win the tournament?

The answer is yes, potentially. Are they now favourites? No. As two-time defending champions, the United States have earned that honour. European teams such as England, Germany, France and Spain are all fearsome contenders. Importantly though, the notion of a Australian triumph on home soil has evolved to the point where it cannot be considered beyond the realms of possibility.