Brazil to call Moreton Bay home for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023!
Published 12 December 2022
Moreton Bay will go green, gold and BLUE next year as the home base for the Brazilian football team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
Mayor Flannery said it meant locals would have two teams to cheer for - the Matildas and the ‘Canarinhas’.
“If I could dance, I’d be doing the samba right now because this is one of the most exciting sports announcements we’ve had in a year full of great sporting announcements for Moreton Bay,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.
“Brazil is synonymous with the ‘beautiful game’, so to have arguably the world’s biggest football powerhouse call Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex home for the duration of the tournament is an incredible honour and one that I’m so excited to see in person.
“The Canarinhas will not only train here, they will also host a schedule of community programs, including an open training session for a lucky group of fans.
“We’ve been in long discussions with FIFA about this and I’m thankful to both them and the Brazilian Football Confederation for choosing Moreton Bay.
“It proves to me that our community facilities are of a world-class standard, which is no accident.
“The Brazilian team will play against fellow heavyweights France in Brisbane on July 28, so Moreton Bay locals can grab tickets to show their support for our new second team.
“So I hope the whole of Moreton Bay can adopt the blue and yellow of Brazil next year when the Canarhinas come to stay, as we look forward to another exciting year of sport in Moreton Bay.”
Brazil will be based at the Caboolture Sports Football Club for the duration of the tournament, to which president Paul Shorter sent his warmest welcomes.
“To have a team of their calibre here in Burpengary is completely out of this world and it’s one that the whole club is excited for,” he said.
“To have the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Australian soil is one thing but to have one of the best teams in the world here is something that will give our juniors something to aspire to.
“It’ll be a huge boost to our club so we can grow our membership and especially to grow the women’s game even further, which is a huge priority for us.
“I’d like to thank Moreton Bay Regional Council and FIFA for making this a reality.”
Mayor Flannery said Council was strategically investing in world class sporting facilities for local clubs, and hoped today’s announcement would inspire the next generation of Matildas and Socceroos to sign up.
“We’ve invested $103 million into local sports and recreation infrastructure over the past three budgets and this financial year we’ve got another $19.7 million worth of work underway, including the brand-new football centre of excellence at South Pine Sports Complex, which will become the home of the Brisbane Roar women’s team next year,” he said.
“Our $8.5 million investment into the newly named Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe was instrumental in getting The Dolphins the NRL’s 17th licence and is one that will bring millions of dollars’ worth investment back to the community every year.
“Kayo Stadium was the site of the first ever standalone NRLW grand final earlier in the year too, which shows our commitment to growing women’s sport on a local and national level.
“So our whole region has reason to be proudly shouting gooooooal!”