In 2002, Melissa “Bubs” Barbieri made her debut for the Matildas.
It was the debut of dreams for the goalkeeper and former Matildas captain: she managed to keep every attempt from Canada away from the goals, including a last minute dive to win the game 1-0 to Australia.
Back then, Matildas games weren’t even on TV.
“We didn’t have social media, we didn’t have coverage, we didn’t have streaming – our games weren’t even televised,” Barbieri told Women’s Agenda recently.
Barbieri recalled telling her family and friends on Facebook where and what time her games would be on, hoping they would spread the word to get more fans coming to watch the matches.
Of course, it’s a different story now. Aussies are waking up at all hours of the night to catch a game. Matildas players are household names. People are even starting to say “football” instead of “soccer”.
But the names we know and love – Hayley Raso, Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Foord – wouldn’t be where they are without veterans of the game like Melissa Barbieri.
“We got that momentum during the World Cup, but the Matildas had already done so much work before that to really inspire the nation,” Barbieri said.
“There’s a huge amount of pride. Our game has grown so far and wide.”
This week is the inaugural Perth International Women’s Football Cup, where four elite women’s football teams – Manchester City, West Ham, Paris Saint-Germain and Leicester City – are heading to WA to compete in a tournament.
From Wednesday to Sunday, fans have the chance to watch some of the world’s best footballers hit it out – including Australia’s Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry and Courtney Nevin.
Barbieri is thrilled to be involved in the tournament. She sees it as a chance to give back to the football community that has given her so much throughout her life.
“It’s really my first time that I’ve been able to be immersed into the community outside of a football game – usually I’m playing,” Barbieri said.
“It’s an opportunity for me to give back to the football community that has supported us over the many, many years that we’ve been playing.”
The impact this tournament will have on the next generation of players is clear – if it’s anything like we saw during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Back in my day, it was unheard of that you could get four teams from anywhere in the world to come and play here in Australia,” Barbieri said.
“So to have four teams on our shores is absolutely immense.”
The interest for women’s sport is clear. In fact, women’s sport is expected to top $US1 billion this year.
“There is something for everybody on a football pitch,” Barbieri said. “The feeling is of a real culture, family friendly – a really safe environment. And that’s what the next four games at the Perth International Cup is going to emulate.”
More and more people, companies and governments are investing time, support and, perhaps most importantly, their money into women’s sport.
“We know that the product is there,” Barbieri said, “but it’s that endorsement, it’s that backing that really keeps it at the forefront of people’s minds in terms of marketing.”
Organisations like CommBank, Qantas and now at the Perth International Football Cup, Ninja, a home appliance company, are backing women’s sport.
“Our game has grown so far and wide, we’re able to get big brands such as Ninja on board to present these tournaments,” Barbieri, who is a Ninja ambassador, said.
“We got that momentum during the World Cup, but the Matildas had already done so much work before that to really inspire the nation. And it’s the companies that are jumping on board that is going to keep that longevity.”