Geelong will be awash with green and gold again, with the CommBank Matildas set to face Colombia at Kardinia Park in a major international football clash this December.
Thousands of football fans are expected to descend on the city on Wednesday, 2nd December, when the Matildas take on Colombia in the second match of a two-game series.
The blockbuster fixture will also form part of Australia’s preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ in Brazil, giving Victorian fans another chance to see the national team on home soil.
The Matildas are coming back to Geelong
It will be the Matildas’ second visit to Geelong in two years. In 2024, more than 30,000 fans packed into Kardinia Park to watch Australia cruise to a 6-0 victory over Chinese Taipei. Now, the national team will return to the regional city for another international showdown, this time against Colombia.
Minister for Major Events Anthony Carbines said the match would give local fans another opportunity to see the team close to home. “We’re turning Kardinia Park green and gold again, giving locals a chance to see the Tillies on their doorstep.”
Kardinia Park has established itself as one of Australia’s major regional sporting and events venues, with the stadium’s capacity boosted to 40,000 following the opening of the Joel Selwood Stand in 2024.
The newly expanded capacity will give thousands of fans the chance to experience international football in the heart of Geelong.
The match also arrives during a packed summer events calendar across the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, with major drawcards including the Festival of Sails and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
The Matildas’ return is expected to bring more than football fans to the region, with visitors set to spend across Geelong’s hospitality, accommodation, retail and tourism businesses.
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements said the fixture would help put the region in the spotlight. “This blockbuster clash will drive visitation across the Geelong region, support local businesses and showcase Victoria’s unmatched ability to host world-class sporting events.”
The Matildas will train in Melbourne
The national team will also return to the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University ahead of the Geelong clash, giving Victorian fans another connection to the squad during its preparations. For Football Australia, the Victorian fixture is part of the team’s build-up to the next Women’s World Cup.
Football Australia Executive Director of Football and Deputy CEO Heather Garriock said the team was looking forward to returning to the state. “We’re delighted to bring the CommBank Matildas back to Victoria for what promises to be a special occasion for football fans, as our FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ preparations intensify.”
She said the team’s Victorian supporters had consistently turned out in force. “The support the team receives whenever they play in Victoria is always outstanding, and we sincerely thank the Victorian Government for its continued support of football and for bringing these special events to communities across the state.”
Victoria’s major events calendar generated $3.64 billion in economic impact in 2025 and attracted close to eight million attendances, supporting almost 17,000 jobs across the events sector and broader visitor economy.
When do Matildas v Colombia tickets go on sale?
Tickets for the Matildas v Colombia match at Kardinia Park go on sale from Monday, 12th October.
With the Matildas having already attracted more than 30,000 fans to their previous Geelong appearance, another big crowd is expected when international football returns to Kardinia Park this December.
For Geelong, it is another chance to put the city firmly on the sporting map, and for Victorian football fans, another opportunity to watch the Matildas on home turf.
