Optus Sports has announced the household names and high-profile stars that will join the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ football experts on the Optus Sport team.
The announcement comes just 64 days out from the tournament, a significant nod to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ having 64 games for the first time in history, making it the first Women’s World Cup equal to the Men’s World Cup in number of games and nations.
Throughout the tournament, Mark Schwarzer, Heather Garriock, Amy Chapman, Amy Harrison, Rebecca Smith and Claudio Fabiano will sit alongside the Optus Sports Hosts Amy Duggan, Niav Owens, and Kelly Sommers as they provide insights and analysis for the biggest moments of the cup.
Mark Schwarzer, as the most-capped Socceroo, will be a familiar face embedded in the Matildas camp in Brisbane providing insight into the preparation. While back in Sydney, Australia’s 130-capped midfielder, Heather Garriock will be joined by former Matilda, Amy Chapman in the studio to discuss match tactics.
Meanwhile, Claudio Fabiano, Amy Harrison and Rebecca Smith are set to host Optus Sport’s daily morning show during the tournament which will take fans into limited access areas; behind the scenes and beyond the pitch.
Heather Garriock said: “Optus Sport has been the pioneer of quality coverage throughout any major tournament but we certainly set the scene in 2019. Our coverage was second to none, we got what we deserved in terms of women’s football coverage and that’s why I’m so excited for this Women’s World Cup here in Australia.”
“This Women’s World Cup is going to leave a long-lasting legacy for football in Australia. This is the biggest tournament next to the Sydney Olympic Games, and I’m super excited for everyone to come together as a community, unite and for football to be at the centre.”
Mark Schwarzer said: “It’s monumental. It’s a game-changer for Australia to hold a World Cup full stop in football. For the women’s game, the development is going to go even more through the roof if that’s even possible because the game has just developed incredibly well over the last couple of years.”