It’s official, Australia has got World Cup fever.
The Matildas' efforts at their home tournament have captured the imagination of the nation and they’re not done yet.
Australia defeated France via dramatic penalty shootout on Saturday night to progress to their first-ever semifinal.
MORE: Player ratings from Matildas' win over France
Just under 50,000 fans packed out Brisbane Stadium, as millions of Aussies were glued to screens across the country.
Mackenzie Arnold was the star, saving multiple strikes in the shootout, with substitute Cortnee Vine slotting home the winning penalty.
Here are the TV audience numbers and how they compare to other big-time events.
Matildas television ratings
Australia's quarterfinal triumph over France is officially the highest-rating TV sport program of the past decade.
The Matildas' thrilling shootout victory reached more than 6.2 million people on Seven and 7plus, with an estimated average audience of 4.17 million.
That number would be even higher when Optus Sport viewing figures and live sites are taken into account.
This trumps the viewership figures from their round of 16 win against Denmark, which saw an average audience of 3.56 million viewers.
MORE: Australia vs France: Arnold the hero as Matildas win penalty shootout
To compare that to other sporting showpieces in Australia, last year’s AFL grand final had an average audience of 3.186 million, the NRL decider brought in 2.756 million viewers and Game II of this year’s State of Origin series - the highest rating of the three - averaged 3.178 million.
The Matildas have also eclipsed the 3.6 million mark set by Ash Barty’s Australian Open final win last year, as well as the 2003 Rugby World Cup final (4 million).
As they charge into the semifinals, the 2005 Australian Open men’s final (Lleyton Hewitt vs. Marat Safin, 5.7 million) could be under threat.
MORE: Women's World Cup: Updated golden boot race
Matildas next game: Who is Australia playing in their semifinal?
After Australia's win over France, they will face England in a semifinal clash in Sydney.
The match will take place on Wednesday, August 16.
England beat Colombia on Saturday night to book their spot in the last four.
Australia results at Women's World Cup
Australia got off to a winning start at the tournament, defeating debutants Republic of Ireland 1-0 at Stadium Australia in front of a record crowd for women's football in the country, despite missing star captain Sam Kerr.
She was also absent for the side's second match, where they were upset by Nigeria who came from behind to record a famous 3-2 victory in Brisbane.
Tony Gustavsson was able to rally his troops for a crucial do-or-die match though, securing a vital victory against Canada in Melbourne in front of a passionate home crowd.
They then carried the momentum into their Round of 16 clash with Denmark, as they recorded a 2-0 win in what was just their second ever win in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
The Matildas' latest triumph came via dramatic penalty shootout, with the match ending 0-0 after 120 minutes.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 20 | Australia 1-0 Rep. of Ireland | Stadium Australia |
| July 27 | Australia 2-3 Nigeria | Brisbane Stadium |
| July 31 | Australia 4-0 Canada | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium |
| August 7 | Australia 2-0 Denmark | Stadium Australia |
| August 13 | Australia 0-0 France (Aus won 7-6 on penalties) | Brisbane Stadium |
Australia potential path to World Cup final
With their semifinal spot now booked, here is the potential path to the World Cup final for the Matildas.
Semifinals: Australia vs. England
The Matildas will now return to Sydney in a mammoth semifinal clash against England.
The Lionesses will be without star attacker Lauren James but still pose a significant threat.
Wednesday night will also give Australia the unique opportunity to both make a World Cup final and defeat the Euro 2022 champions for the second time in a calendar year.
Final: Australia vs. Spain/Sweden
In what would be arguably the biggest game in Australian football history, the Matildas could play a World Cup final in their own backyard, where their potential opponent is guaranteed to be challenging.
The opposing side of the draw is rather strong, with Spain and Sweden navigating their way to the semifinals.
Regardless of who makes it through, it would be an unforgettable occasion for Australia in front of over 75,000 fans at Stadium Australia.
