Whenever Mackenzie Arnold spots a pop of lavender in the stands of a packed-out stadium, her heart swells with pride.
Off the back of Australia’s ground-breaking run at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup — and more specifically ‘Brick Wall’ Arnold’s heroics during a penalty shootout win over France — sportswear company Nike announced it would release the team’s goalkeeper jersey for sale.
During the home tournament, fans were outraged to learn they could not support the national team’s goalkeepers by donning their distinctive lavender kit for their matches.
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So, after relenting to social pressure, Nike made the jersey available for the public to purchase in February.
And unsurprisingly to most, Football Australia’s online store sold out within 15 minutes.
Now, with the jerseys having been out in the world for several months, Arnold says it is striking to see both herself and the women who came before her recognised when she sees a goalie kit in the crowd.
“Whenever any of us are acknowledged, or we hear that the Matildas jerseys have sold out, it always blows our mind,” she tells Wide World of Sports.
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“Seeing those pops of the Nike lavender jerseys has been pretty special.
“That kind of support doesn’t go unnoticed, especially in a stadium filled with so many supporters — men, women, boys and girls — all wearing our colours and cheering us on.
“The World Cup was such an incredible platform to showcase not only us but so many international female athletes on a world stage.
“I hope these sorts of opportunities continue for all of us throughout our careers.”
A year on from their historic World Cup campaign, the Australian team will next contest the Olympic football tournament at Paris 2024, which kicks off on July 24.
The 18-player squad has drawn Group B alongside football powerhouses the United States and Germany, creating a tricky path to the medal matches.
To advance out of the group stage, Australia needs to finish top two — beating out either The Stars and Stripes or the Die Nationalelf.
If they are to succeed, Australia would then face either France, Colombia, Canada or New Zealand from Group A in the quarter finals.
But after finishing fourth at both Tokyo 2020 and the World Cup, the Aussies are targeting a step onto the dais in Paris.
“It would mean the world to us,” Arnold says of winning a major tournament with the national team.
“We’ve finished fourth at the last two and both times came so close to securing some silverware.
“I can’t wait for when it finally happens and we all get to experience the success together — not only just us as players, but the whole of Australia.”
Arnold last week announced that she would depart Women’s Super League side West Ham United to join the Portland Thorns National in the National Women’s Soccer League after the Olympic Games.
Having been named a finalist for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper earlier this year — 13 years after she made her W-League debut with Perth Glory in 2011 — Arnold hopes her best football has yet to be played.
“I’ve only just turned 30 and feel that the best is still ahead of me,” she says.
“Hopefully that’s close to 10 more years representing Australia with the Matildas.
“[But] honestly, I’ve never been one to look too far ahead, I’m very much an in-the-moment type of person.
“If I can leave a legacy similar to what [longest serving player on the national team] Lydia Williams has done for me and the other goalkeepers coming through the ranks, I’ll be happy.
“There’s still plenty more for me to learn and the more we keep playing together, the better we will be.
“Collectively, our goal is to win a medal at the upcoming Olympics and the next World Cup in 2027.”
The women’s and men’s Olympic football tournaments will take place between July 24 and August 10 with matches to be played at Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes.
Mackenzie Arnold is an ambassador for Old El Paso ™. Try her tasty beef burritos recipe for yourself!
