The IFCPF Women’s World Cup schedule has been released with Australia opening their inaugural campaign against the Netherlands on 11 May 2022 at Futbol Salou in Spain with kick off at 12:45 CEST / 8.45pm AET.
Following the fixture with the Dutch, the ParaMatildas will face AFC compatriots Japan (13 May), hosts Spain (14 May) before completing the group play against the United States (15 May).
The top four nations from the group phase will then face off for the medals with the top two playing for the championship while the third and fourth placed teams will battle for the bronze medal. All of Australia’s matches will be played at Futbol Salou Field 8.
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Preparations are already well underway for Australia's first national team for women and girls with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and symptoms of stroke. Head coach Kelly Stirton earlier this month held their first national team training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Stirton was pleased to finally have face to face contact with the players in a high performance environment after COVID-19 enforced hiatus.
“It was good to get on the park see the girls on the pitch for the first time I have really seen them together,” she said.
“It has been three years since we last had them together, so it was really exciting. They were a bit nervous to start off with but then we got into the motion. As the camp went on, the girls really formed together which was good to see.”
Australia’s head coach will have one final chance to evaluate players prior to selecting her final 10 player team for World Championships in Spain.
There is no doubt that it’s going to be a hard choice to try select the ten players that we want to take away with us which is always a good thing.”
“It's good to see the strong progression of these girls and having to battle it out for a position puts us in a good place. I'm really comfortable with any of the players we could take away.”
Women's CP football is a five-a-side sport with smaller goals, 30-minute halves and no offside. Players are classed as FT1, FT2 and FT3 depending on how their disability affects a player, with at least one FT1 player and a maximum of one FT3 player required at all times.
Broadcast information for the 2022 IFCPF Women’s World Cup will be provided as it comes to hand.
2022 IFCPF WOMEN’S WORLD CUP - PARAMATILDAS GROUP SCHEDULE
Australia v Netherlands
Date: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AET
Australia v Japan
Date: Friday, 13 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 9.45am CEST / 5.45pm AET
Australia v Spain
Date: Saturday, 14 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AET
Australia v United States of America
Date: Sunday, 15 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AET
FINALS SCHEDULE
3rd v 4th
Date: Tuesday, 17 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 9.45am CEST / 5.45pm AET
1st v 2nd
Date: Tuesday, 17 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AET
