Football Australia proudly marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most significant moments in Australian sporting history - the participation of the pioneering 1975 Australian Women's National Team in the inaugural Women's Asian Cup.
That special squad was recently formally recognised as the First Matildas and was the first Australian women's team to compete in an official international tournament in 1975, blazing a trail for the generations of athletes who would follow.
Hosted in Hong Kong in August - September in 1975, that tournament is now recognised as the inaugural Women's Asian Cup and featured six national sides.
Competing under the Australian coat of arms against some of Asia's strongest sides, the First Matildas finished third - claiming a bronze medal and sparking the beginning of Australia's international women's football story.
This milestone comes amid broader reflections on the sport's evolution and the ongoing drive toward equality in football. As Australia prepares to host the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in March of 2026, these commemorations resonate even more deeply.
Despite their appearance, performance, and national representation, the 1975 squad was not formally acknowledged at the time until this year when Football Australia, through a comprehensive review process, officially recognised the 1975 team as the "First Matildas" ensuring their rightful place in the game's history. The squad has now been awarded 'A' International caps numbered "0," honouring their foundational role in the tradition of Australian women's football.
Over five decades, the Matildas have grown from an under-recognised team of volunteers and dreamers into a household name that has redefined women's sport in Australia. Their performances at recent FIFA Women's World Cups have inspired record-breaking crowds, nationwide celebrations, and a lasting legacy of equality in Australian sport.
The anniversary takes on added meaning as Australia prepares to host the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Half a century after the First Matildas helped launch the tournament, the competition will return to Australian soil for the first time, with the Matildas now established as one of the world's elite football teams.
Quotes attributed to Interim CEO Heather Garriock:
"Fifty years on, the Matildas are more than a football team - they are a symbol of what women's sport can achieve.
"Since 1975, they've redefined how Australians see women in sport, uniting communities and inspiring the next generation. None of this would have been possible without the courage and determination of the First Matildas."
Quotes attributed to Captain of the First Matildas, Pat O'Connor:
"When we pulled on the green and gold uniform back in 1975, we could never have imagined how far the women's game would come and the scale of what the AFC Women's Asian Cup would grow into.
"To see the Matildas inspiring the nation today, and to have this tournament here on home soil next year, is incredibly special. I feel so proud to have been part of the foundations of something that has grown into such a global spectacle, and I can't wait to see the 2026 edition showcase the very best of women's football to Australia and the world."
Quotes attributed to Sarah Walsh, COO of the Women's Asian Cup LOC:
"As we celebrate 50 years of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, it's important to pay tribute to the trailblazers of that very first tournament who showed what Dream Fearless truly means.
"Hosting the Women's Asian Cup in 2026 will be a full-circle moment.
"It will honour the past, celebrate the present, and showcase the future of women's football in Australia.
"Today, the Matildas are the most loved team in the country, but it all started 50 years ago with the first Matildas who deserve every bit of recognition.
"The legacy of that 1975 tournament has grown into the global showpiece we will see on home soil next year."
The 1975 Australian Women's National Team which will be recognised as the "First Matildas" with 'A' International Caps numbered "O1" are:
| First Name | Surname |
| Pat | O'Connor |
| Christel | Abenthum |
| Sue | Binns |
| Kim | Coates |
| Julie | Dolan |
| Lynn | Everett Miller |
| Trudy | Fischer |
| Cindy | Heydon |
| Vickie | Kohen |
| Sue | Larsen |
| Lynn | McKenzie |
| Aunty Tarita Yvonne | Peters (Stacey Tracy) |
| Connie | Selby |
| Trixie | Tagg |
| Sue | Taylor |
| Gundega (Gundy) | Zarins |
Coach - Joe O'CONNOR
