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The Matildas celebrate their winning goal against France at Marvel Stadium.Credit:Getty Images.

Ditto the MCC. “The MCG is committed to showcasing and celebrating the achievements of Australia’s women’s sporting teams … but as a venue for hire,we acknowledge that each major sporting event has specific requirements that must be met,” said chief executive Stuart Fox.

“The MCG is well equipped to host major events,and we are hopeful that being part of a prestigious event such as the FIFA women’s World Cup can remain a possibility in the future.”

FIFA’s insistence on exclusive access – reasonable on its own terms – also means that Perth’s 60,000 capacity Optus Stadium is off limits for the World Cup.

AAMI Park during and A League men’s match.Credit:Getty Images

For some fans,there is consolation in the fact that soccer does not lend itself readily to round or oval venues anyway. In their eyes,you can’t put a square game into a round ground. Of the 10 stadiums staging World Cup matches across Australia and New Zealand,only two are not rectangular by design. One is Stadium Australia,where the opening match and the final will be played.

Striking a World Cup balance would have been tricky for organisers and promoters. The Matildas are a huge drawcard,but none of the other three group matches set down for Melbourne are likely to attract sell-out crowds,and the identity of the teams for the round of 16 matches is not yet known,of course.

Nonetheless,a CEO can only dream. The Australia-France warm-up game was played at Marvel Stadium because it was not part of the tournament proper. Football Australia chief executive James Johnson was there earlier in the day for a meeting.

“I remember speaking to the lovely lady who was picking up general inquiries when I went into their boardroom meeting,” Johnson said,“and she said she’s never had so many phone calls during a day looking for tickets.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr mingles with soccer fans after the World Cup send-off game against France at Marvel Stadium last week.Credit:Getty Images

“So I’m sure we would’ve got more tickets had we played at a bigger stadium like the MCG. It wasn’t to be,we went with the biggest stadium we could find in Melbourne,and it was part of a package that we’d agreed with the Victorian government that was linked to the home of the Matildas.

“The Matildas would be in Melbourne,and they would train at the home of the Matildas and then play the farewell match there. So,it was the best option that we had,and we were very happy with it.”

Football Australia’s informal position is that Melbourne should have a bigger,dedicated rectangular stadium one day anyway. It will not have escaped long and rueful memories that when Marvel Stadium was first a twinkle in civic authorities’ eye late last century,it was to be rectangular and devoted to soccer,rugby and league.

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