Soccer Worldcup 2023: Can the 'Matildas effect' boost women and girls in sport?

It's been dubbed by some as the ‘Matildas effect’: how the home World Cup is inspiring the next generation of players.

Hayler Raso of the Matildas competes for possession with Heather Payne of Ireland during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer match between Australia and the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Thursday, July 20, 2023. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts); Inset: Raj Lingham, Sports Coordinator at Northern Tigers Social Club. Source: AAP / DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

But while interest in the Women's World Cup has been a welcome step forward for girls and women in sport, experts say there are still many barriers to participation.

Kulasegaram Sanchayan reviews FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with Raj Lingham, a soccer player from childhood and now the Sports Coordinator at Northern Tigers Social Club in Melbourne.

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