Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reveals plans to honour the Matildas’ World Cup heroics with a statue outside Suncorp Stadium as Sam Kerr and Co. will join Wally Lewis

The Matildas’ World Cup heroics are set to be honoured with a statue outside Suncorp Stadium after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the team deserved its place ‘among the greats’ of Australian sport.

Tony Gustavsson and his team were given a special honour when handed the keys to the City of Brisbane on Sunday, with Palaszczuk crediting them for inspiring ‘so many more girls’ to take up sport.

The Matildas missed out on a place on the podium after losing 2-0 to Sweden in the third-spot play-off in Brisbane, but their fourth-place finish is Australia’s best-ever result at a World Cup for both men’s and women’s.

And the Queensland premier revealed plans were in place for the Matildas to join rugby league immortal Wally Lewis in having a statue outside Lang Park.

‘As a lasting tribute to the 2023 Matildas, we will build a statue at Suncorp Stadium,’ she said on stage at Brisbane’s Riverstage as thousands gathered for a public celebration of the Matildas.

The Matildas’ World Cup heroics were celebrated in front of a huge crowd in Brisbane

‘There are plenty there, celebrating our male sporting champions, it’s time we celebrated women as well […] you deserve your place amongst the greatest.’

Palaszczuk said the Queensland government will fund the statue and that discussion with Football Australia over the design were ongoing.

Responding to calls for more funding from Gustavsson and Matildas skipper Sam Kerr, Palaszczuk pledged her government will leave no stone unturned to ensure the World Cup legacy isn’t squandered. 

‘Today isn’t about the end of something but the start of something new,’ she said.

‘We’re going to increase the legacy funding for women’s football, including upgrades to major venues where football is played across Queensland.’

On Saturday, Gustavsson urged Football Australia to ride the wave of excitement. 

‘We have a massive amount of work to do now to capitalise on this,’ he told reporters.

‘And I’ve said it before, I don’t see this as an end of a journey. I see it as a beginning of a journey.

Australia’s fourth-place finish is their best ever result at a World Cup 

Wally Lewis is known as The Emperor of Lang Park and is now commemorated by a statue outside Suncorp Stadium 

Over 5,000 fans turned out to celebrate the Matildas in Brisbane on Sunday

‘But I also want to be very clear that I want to see investment now. I really do. I want to see investment. And I mean like a real investment that we’re serious about what we’re doing.’

The Matildas have captured the hearts and minds of the nation, with the semi-final against England reaching a peak of 11.1 million viewers and recording an average audience of 7.13 million according to OzTam ratings and Channel Seven. 

The huge TV audiences were reflected by sold-out stadiums and live sites across the country and Kerr paid tribute to the public support the team received throughout the tournament.

Tony Gustavsson (left) and Sam Kerr (right) have both called for more funding to football

‘The fans did this,’ she said.

‘I mean, we would have played the World Cup with one person in the crowd so for you to pack the stadiums every game, it’s been a dream come true.

‘The fans outside our hotel, outside the stadium, sending messages, wearing the guernseys – we see everything, we appreciate everything.

‘It’s been an emotional roller coaster for everyone, but it’s been the best four weeks of our lives.’