LIVE: Nike boss' astonishing Matildas jersey claim

A Nike brag has made an astonishing admittance that puts into position the popularity of the Matildas.

Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Nike Pacific brag Ashley Reade said that earlier a shot had been kicked successful the World Cup the Matildas had sold much authoritative jerseys than the Socceroos did during and aft past year's 2022 men's FIFA World Cup.

Reade added that the selling imaginable for the women's squad had motored past the Australian men's team, with immense upside inactive to beryllium seen erstwhile the tourney gets into gear.

Nike is simply a large sponsor of some the Socceroos and the Matildas arsenic good arsenic a idiosyncratic sponsor of the astir celebrated look successful either team, Sam Kerr.

Reade said Kerr was "one of the biggest athletes successful the world".

Nike sells Matildas jerseys for $115 successful big sizes and $100 for children.

"The request for jerseys has been unprecedented," helium said. "It's incredible, we haven't adjacent got to the archetypal crippled yet."

FIFA is being criticised aft the database of commentators for the World Cup satellite provender was released.

Of the 9 frontline commentators named, nary are women. A abstracted database of "co-commentators" was released also, and does diagnostic women.

When the database was tweeted, the replies were overwhelmingly captious of FIFA.

Daily Mail shot analogous Kathryn Batte called it "a singular oversight".

"To person nary women connected FIFA's satellite provender is poor," she wrote.

"The deficiency of diverseness does not nonstop retired a large message."

English writer Sally Freedman tweeted, "seriously... are we successful 2023 oregon 1950?".

Sam Kerr is the astir recognisable Australian subordinate astatine this World Cup - and for precise bully reason.

But 1 teammate threatens to bargain the amusement from her skipper.

Former Matildas subordinate Amy Harrison is tipping weapon guardant Caitlin Foord to prima for the big nation.

"Sam Kerr, she's a superstar... but 1 who I deliberation is going to radiance is Is Caitlin Foord," Harrison told Nine's Today.

"She goes nether the radar nether the shadiness of Sam. I deliberation she is an unthinkable subordinate and truthful talented. I deliberation if we person her astatine her precise champion the Matildas volition bash helium well."

Harrison - who has 13 caps for Australia - can't hold to spot the Aussies instrumentality connected Ireland astatine Stadium Australia connected Thursday.

"It's going to beryllium insane, I can't wait," she said.

"Ireland are evidently debutantes astatine this World Cup, but that doesn't accidental thing astir them successful my opinion.

"I deliberation they volition beryllium truly strong. They're a large antiaircraft team. You cognize what the Irish radical are like, they spell retired and combat to the precise end. They are going to beryllium precise tough.I deliberation it volition beryllium an awesome game."

Former Matildas players Moya Dodd and Toni McMahon are supportive of the existent propulsion for amended pay.

Ahead of the World Cup, existent Matildas players released a video urging FIFA to adjacent the spread betwixt what women and men are paid for the respective tournaments.

"The satellite is frustrating successful that consciousness - determination is inactive a sex wage spread successful firm environments, successful the media," Dodd said connected Nine's Today.

"We should beryllium successful a satellite wherever those gaps are closing, and not getting bigger time by day."

A elephantine statue of American World Cup superstar Alex Morgan has been spotted connected the streets of New York.

The United States statesman their run connected Saturday against Vietnam.

Football Australia has revealed much than 1 cardinal tickets person been sold for World Cup matches successful Australia on - not including the games successful New Zealand.

On Thursday nighttime astatine Stadium Australia alone, much than 70,000 fans volition ticker the Matildas instrumentality connected Ireland.

"We are thrilled with the beardown summons income for the FIFA Women's World Cup," FA brag James Johnson said Thursday.

"Surpassing 1 cardinal tickets sold successful Australia unsocial is simply a singular achievement, and we are assured successful our quality to interruption the 1.5 cardinal summons income people crossed some big countries soon. This is simply a testament to the unwavering enactment for women's shot and the excitement surrounding the tournament."