Huge excitement is building ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the sale of Matildas merchandise is outstripping that for their male counterparts.

According to Nike, more competition merchandise for the Matildas has been sold ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup than was sold for the Australian men’s team during and since the male equivalent tournament last year.

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Sienna, 14, told Neil Mitchell there’s huge excitement among her friends — and she was lucky enough to be given a pair of Hayley Ruso’s boots after the Matildas v France game on Friday night!

Captain of the Uni Hill Eagles Soccer Club senior women’s team, Jess Halabi, says the FIFA Women’s World Cup being played on home soil will have a huge impact on girls who play the sport.

“There hasn’t really been stuff on home soil where it’s like ‘Yep, I want to be like them, I want to play like them’,” she told Neil Mitchell.

“So I think for juniors it’s really good just to oepn their eyes to what else can happen. Like yes you can play AFL but this sport can take you around the world.”

Image: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images