Indigenous Aussie and Kiwi flags fine to fly at Women’s World Cup – but stadiums have to be renamed
Indigenous Australian and Kiwi flags WILL be allowed at Women’s World Cup matches in history-making move by FIFA – but four major Aussie stadiums will have to change their names
- Aboriginal and Maori flags to be on display at Women’s World Cup
- FIFA approved request from Australia & New Zealand federations
- Some venues will have name tweaks due to FIFA branding requirements
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After being officially endorsed by FIFA, the Indigenous flags of Australia and New Zealand will be flown at all upcoming Women’s World Cup games in a history-making move following requests from the Australian and New Zealand football organisations.
All 35 World Cup fixtures in Australia will feature the national flag, the Australian Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag
Across the Tasman, 29 games will see New Zealand’s national flag displayed as well as the Maori flag, known as Tino Rangatiratanga.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the flags ‘express a spirit of mutual respect, national identity, and recognition of Indigenous cultures for our hosts’, with Football Australia boss James Johnson labelling the flag approval an ‘important moment for all Australians, particularly First Nations people’.
Indigenous Matildas players Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams were both elated at the development, as it looms as their very own ‘Cathy Freeman sporting moment.’
Matildas star and proud Indigenous woman Kyah Simon was elated after it was confirmed the Aboriginal flag will be on display at all games in Australia during the Women’s World Cup
The Matildas pose with the Aboriginal flag before playing New Zealand at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo – the initiative came from Kyah Simon (front row, second from left)
In iconic scenes, the decorated Aboriginal athlete celebrated her gold medal in the 400m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 with both flags draped over her shoulder.
However, teammate and captain Sam Kerr was left deflated following FIFA’s decision to ban players from wearing armbands featuring the rainbow colours of the LGBT Pride Flag,’ the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Last year’s men’s World Cup in Qatar also banned displays supporting LGBTQ causes and exposed the host nation’s questionable human rights record – and it was also publicly condemned by the Socceroos before a ball was kicked.
‘We are seeing more social issues play out in major tournaments because athletes, as they should, see an opportunity to use their platform to drive social change,’ Football Australia boss Johnson added.
‘The Socceroos did that ahead of the World Cup … and had the strong support of the federation.’
Come July 20 the Women’s World Cup will also see venues renamed in capital cities such Brisbane and Sydney.
Suncorp Stadium will be rebranded Brisbane Stadium for the duration of the tournament, with Allianz Stadium in the Harbour City to be known as the Sydney Football Stadium.
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Cathy Freeman celebrates winning the women’s 400m race with the national flag and Aboriginal flag at the Sydney Olympics in 2000
It is the same story at Accor Stadium in Homebush, which will be briefly dubbed Stadium Australia.
Elsewhere, AAMI Park will be known as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
The changes fall in line with FIFA rules requiring corporate branding to be removed from hosting venues.
The Matildas take on the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup group opener at Stadium Australia in Sydney on July 20.
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