‘Waiting for two years’: ParaMatildas win the IFCPF Women’s World Cup

The ParaMatildas have become the first Australian football side to win a World Cup, winning the Final of the IFCPF World Cup 6-2 over the USA after losing the Final of the inaugural edition 4-2 to the same side in 2022.

After handing the USA its first World Cup loss earlier in the tournament, the pressure was on Australia to repeat their group stage performance, with goalkeeping extraordinaire and co-captain Katelyn Smith leading by example at both ends of the pitch, scoring a hat-trick and denying the USA a chance to get back into the game once the Aussies took the lead.

Smith, who also missed a penalty in the match, said she could not put into words how much the win meant, but that the feeling were really good.

“I thought to myself, ‘I missed it, let’s pick my head up, we’ve still got so long in the game left,’ and to come out and score three goals, one from a penalty, and two just kicking it long and hoping to find another player and it ended up in the back of the net is very exciting and I take every opportunity that I can,” Smith said.

Smith reflected on the heartbreaking loss the side experienced in 2022, and how the experience has guided them the last two years towards this moment.

“We came in two years ago and to make it to the Final and lose was a little bit gut-wrenching,” she said.

“But now we’ve had two quality years together with a lot of the girls and we’ve come a long way in the team and I’m very proud of everyone.”

Georgia Beikoff was also part of that 2022 side, and speaking to Round Ball Australia prior to the tournament, reflected on the experience at that World Cup and not even having a full team when the decision was made for Australia to go.

“I remember getting on the phone to Rae Anderson because I knew she’s been to both summer and winter Paralympics and she’s a very talented athlete so I knew that she had done lots of different sports and I knew she was reasonably active and fit,” Beikoff recalled.

“[I asked her] did you want to come and give soccer a go?, and she’s been with us ever since.

“The stakes were a bit lower because we didn’t really know how we were going to go.”

She also said that this World Cup was going to be a little bit scarier because there were expectations in place now and the stakes were higher.

Speaking after the win, Beikoff, who scored a brace in the match, said that the entire side knew they had a job to do and did it, but also recognising that it went beyond the players on the field.

“We’ve come a long way in the last two and a half years, and we’ve worked really hard.

“It’s all to do with staff, and especially [Football Australia General Manager Campaigns and Fundraising] Kat Hicks. She’s done everything that she can.

“We’re really grateful and thankful for all the hard work that they’ve put in.”

In the match itself, the USA got off to an incredibly fast start, scoring their only two goals in the 4th and 6th minutes of the match, before Smith scored her first and then leveled the game from a penalty in the 30th minute, and completed her hat-trick in a similar manner to how she scored her first three minutes later.

Smith was taking a goal kick and put it long towards the goalmouth at the other end, but finding a way over everyone crowded around it on both sides to give Australia a lead they would not relinquish, with Beikoff scoring in the 38th and 49th minutes, and Annmarie de Urirate in the 46th minute to seal the victory.

Coach Kelly Stirton said that she had no idea how to describe how she was feeling following the win.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” she said.

“I’ve been waiting for this feeling for two years and redemption and we’ve finally got it.

“The girls dug deep. 2-0 down, 2-1 at half-time, and then coming back and winning it 6-2, you can’t ask for a better Final.

“I really love the fact that we’ve just won a World Cup. It’s next level.”