SINGAPORE – In July 2023, Chelsea Blissett was among the crowd of over 40,000 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for England’s 1-0 victory over Haiti at the Women’s World Cup.
While she got a front-row seat to catch some of world’s best footballers in action, the attendance was what stood out for the Australian.
“It was nearly sold out and the Matildas weren’t even playing, and it just showed that the fan base is there and we need to capitalise on it,” said the defender, who plays for A-League Women side Brisbane Roar.
“That’s what the World Cup has bolstered and highlighted – that we need to do more and it’s definitely on its way. It showed the potential that the sport has in our country.”
The 25-year-old, who made four appearances for Australia’s Under-19 team, was speaking on the sidelines of a training session at the Bishan Stadium on April 3.
The Roar are in town on a five-day tour as part of a partnership with the Football Association of Singapore and will face the Women’s Premier League (WPL) All-Stars team in an exhibition match at the same venue on April 4.
The 2023 World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, has been a game-changer for women’s football, drawing record attendances – nearly two million fans turned out at the stadiums.
It has also spurred the sport’s development in Australia, said Blissett and her clubmate Deborah-Anne de la Harpe.
The fullback noted how the Matildas have become household names and play in packed stadiums, when previously games attracted only 1,000 or 2,000 people.
Their most recent home game – a 6-0 thrashing of Chinese Taipei in December 2024 – drew over 30,000 in the 40,000-capacity GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.
De la Harpe, 24, noted that players were being paid about A$500 (S$425) when she started playing about nine years ago – they now earn a minimum salary over six to seven months.
She said: “The fact that we can have this income from playing, it’s grown so much and I also think the World Cup in Australia brought a lot more fans to our league.
“Around the world there’s been a real investment, allowing girls not to have to work full-time to fully invest in their training, so that’s been a really big thing.”
Brisbane Roar defender Deborah-Anne de la Harpe highlighted that there is some way to go for the A-League Women to match other leagues in Europe.ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
But the players also noted that there is still room for improvement.
De la Harpe, who represented the Australian U-19 team but made her debut for Ireland in 2023, highlighted that there is some way to go for the A-League Women to match other leagues in Europe, like England’s Women’s Super League.
For example, while players can sign multi-year deals in Australia, they are contracted for about 35 weeks and not the entire year, she said.
“It’s a lot more full-time (in Europe),” added de la Harpe, who had a stint with Danish outfit HB Koge.
“When you go to the bigger leagues in England and Italy, there are 12-month contracts as compared to here in Australia. That was a big change.”
Blissett, who also works as a coach, shared that while progress has been exponential, it is not uncommon for players to juggle other jobs while playing in Australia.
She hopes to “be able to leave a mark on the game where we’ve created a better situation for when we found it”.
Also hoping to leave an impact is Danelle Tan, who became just the second Singaporean to play in the A-League Women when she joined the Roar in 2024.
The forward is excited to be back in Singapore and guided her teammates around her home town and took them to places like the Marina Bay Sands.
Looking ahead to the game, the 20-year-old said: “It’s an amazing opportunity – I would’ve loved to watch a professional women’s team play on home soil growing up.
“To be able to play against WPL All-Stars would be a good chance for them to show what they’re capable of, so it’ll be a really exciting match for both the players and fans.”
Albirex Niigata’s Siti Rosnani Azman is relishing the chance to play against a professional team and hopes this will not be a one-off occasion.
The defender, 27, said: “It’s about having the opportunity to show our skills and potentially make a difference in the game…
“For the young ones, this is something they can look up to – if you perform well, there’s a chance you can be picked for the All-Stars.
“In Singapore, women’s football is growing and hopefully there will be more sponsorships, investments that will be put up for local football here.”
Tickets for the April 4 game between the WPL All-Stars and Brisbane Roar are available on the Ticketek and Football Association of Singapore websites.
