Disney+ and the Matildas to showcase Australian sporting spirit

Staff Writer

The Walt Disney Company and Football Australia have announced a new Australian-commissioned Disney+ Original which will tell the story of the Australian women’s national football team – the Commonwealth Bank Matildas – as they prepare for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ on home soil alongside co-host New Zealand.

The six-part docu-series – yet to have its title revealed – will go behind the scenes of the popular Australian national sporting team, the Matildas, and track the rise of women’s sport through incredible and immersive storytelling. It will chronicle the highs and lows as well as extraordinary teamwork, trust and spirit – as the squad looks to create history and leave an unrivalled legacy for the sport in Australia and abroad.

Off the field, the series will highlight how the Matildas are pioneering change, as well as covering their experiences during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The series will also explore the influence of head coach Tony Gustavsson, and the special connection the Matildas have with their fans. Overall, it will capture how the Matildas are able to unite Australians in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Production of the series is underway, led by Executive Producers, Steve Bibb (Inside the Sydney Opera House, Shipwreck Hunters Australia) and Christopher G. Cowen (Decades Series, College Football 150, State of Play) with Katie Bender Wynn (The Will To Fly) as Director. Fremantle and Boardwalk Pictures will lend services to this global production.

The series will launch on Disney+ locally in 2023 and be available on Disney+ globally at a later date.

The Walt Disney Company will reveal its 2022/23 scripted and unscripted Disney+ Australian commissions in the coming weeks, adding to the Matildas series.

Senior Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company in Australia and New Zealand, Kylie Watson-Wheeler:

“The Matildas are game-changers for women’s sport in Australia and around the world. This Australian narrative details the impressive skill, determination, commitment, and stamina it takes in the lead up to the World Cup in 2023. The series transcends football and celebrates the true Australian spirit of the Matildas.”

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson:

“The Commonwealth Bank Matildas represent Australia on the world stage as global ambassadors and are an inspiration to many, both young and old. This docu-series is an incredible opportunity to share their story not just locally, but globally, and at a time of rapid evolution in women’s football, we are proud to be working with the world’s best story-telling company to bring the Matildas spirit to life.

“In partnering with The Walt Disney Company, Football Australia has chosen a partner that focuses on stories with inspirational and aspirational themes. Together, we hope that this docu-series will inspire the next generation of footballers, girls and boys, around the world, and our players are excited by that challenge.”

Director Katie Bender Wynn:

“The Matildas have broken through massive barriers for women in sport, yet their story has never properly been told. I’m thrilled that Disney+ is shining a light on this inspiring group of women whose stories are worthy of the biggest platform. On its surface, this is a classic tale about a team of women preparing for the greatest tournament of their lives; but at its core, it’s an intimate portrait of a sisterhood that transcends the game.”

Executive Producer Steve Bibb:

“As a documentary maker and an inquisitive football fan, it’s a privilege to be given the opportunity to tell the Matildas’ story in this special moment in time. The behind-the-scenes access allows us to bring this story to the world as we chart the journey of these inspiring women writing the next chapter in their story on the road to the 2023 World Cup.”

Executive Producer Christopher G. Cowen:

“Disney+ and Football Australia have given us the opportunity to tell the inspiring story of the Matildas to the millions of young female and male football players around the globe, and that is a responsibility that our entire team takes on with great zeal.”

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UEFA set to end FIFA boycott threat after World Cup investment plan collapse

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Image Credits: UEFA

UEFA is set to withdraw its threat to boycott FIFA competitions after receiving assurances that a controversial private investment plan will not return. The dispute originally centred on FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to bring private investors into the commercial rights of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.

UEFA strongly opposed the plan. European football leaders argued that major international competitions should not become investment products. FIFA later withdrew the proposal. However, UEFA continued to demand guarantees that it would not be revived.

Those assurances now appear to have eased the immediate conflict.

FIFA’s money move

The dispute was about more than football governance. It raised a major question about who controls football’s most valuable commercial assets.

Infantino’s proposal involved creating a new commercial structure that could have attracted billions of dollars from private investors. Reports put the proposed business at around $28 billion ($20 billion USD), with investors set to take a stake in the new entity. For FIFA, private capital could have created new opportunities to expand commercial revenue and fund football development. For investors, World Cup-related rights would offer exposure to one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties.

But UEFA’s opposition highlighted the risks. Selling part of the commercial upside could reduce FIFA’s control over future revenue and create pressure to prioritise financial returns.

Why it matters for football

The outcome could shape how football’s biggest competitions are financed in the future. FIFA still controls enormous global media, sponsorship and commercial assets. Any move to bring outside investors into those assets could change the balance of power across the sport.

The failed proposal also exposed tensions between FIFA and major football confederations. UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC all criticised the original plan.

For clubs, broadcasters and sponsors, stability matters. A prolonged dispute between FIFA and UEFA could create uncertainty around competition. The FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup kicks off on September 5th. Not only was there debate over whether European nations would participate, but the tournament is being held in the European nation of Poland.

With the boycott officially over, the disruption to the tournament has been alleviated, but wider tensions still remain.

The conflict is not over

UEFA may now drop its boycott threat, but its discontent with Infantino’s leadership remains.

UEFA leaders continue to push for a change at the top of FIFA. European football figures have also called for greater transparency and stronger consultation with football stakeholders. So whilst the immediate business threat has eased, the bigger question remains. Who should control football’s future commercial growth and who could contest Infantino in March at the next presidential election?

Beyond Old Trafford: How Manchester United’s new stadium could reshape an entire district

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Image Credit: Manchester United

Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-seat stadium is more than a replacement for Old Trafford.

It’s the centrepiece of one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects ever planned by a football club.

Unveiled in March by architects Foster + Partners, the concept would see a new stadium built adjacent to Old Trafford, just 350 metres from the existing ground.

Supported by Trafford Council, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development Corporation the proposed development aims to transform the area surrounding the stadium into a thriving mixed-use precinct featuring housing, commercial space, public transport improvements and new public amenities.

While the stadium dominated headlines, the broader vision is about much more than just football.

Once complete, the new venue would become the largest club football stadium in the UK, increasing capacity from around 74,000 to 100,000 spectators.

 

More than just a stadium

However, the stadium is only one piece of a much larger plan.

Foster + Partners vision includes new homes, offices, hotels, retail and hospitality spaces, green public areas and improved pedestrian links.

They believe this “mixed-use” destination will attract visitors throughout the year and create a “vibrant destination” for tourists and visitors from across the world.

The proposal also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, with plans for a walkable precinct supported by public transport, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy technologies integrated into the stadium’s distinctive canopy design.

 

A major economic opportunity

The broader regeneration has been positioned as a major economic opportunity for Greater Manchester.

An independent study conducted by Oxford Economics found that the stadium and regeneration project could contribute approximately $15 billion to the UK economy.

In addition, the project would also support around 92,000 jobs while creating more than 17,000 new homes and attracting an additional 1.8 million visitors yearly.

Those figures remain projections rather than guaranteed outcomes, but they have become central to the club’s case for the redevelopment.

 

Connecting United to a Wider European Trend

A key component of the proposal is improving transport connections around Old Trafford

The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the project as significant opportunity for the region, with investment in rail, Metrolink and surrounding infrastructure viewed as essential to unlocking the wider regeneration potential.

The plan also includes greater pedestrian accessibility, to integrate the stadium district with surrounding communities.

Manchester United’s proposal reflects a broader trend across Europe football.

Stadium developments are increasingly viewed as catalysts for urban renewal and economic development, rather than standalone sporting venues.

Projects such as Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Everton’s new waterfront home and Real Madrid’s redevelopment of the Bernabeu have demonstrated how modern stadiums can generate revenue through hospitality, entertainment and commercial activity beyond football.

 

Transforming Old Trafford

Despite support for the proposal, significant hurdles remain before construction can begin.

Funding arrangements, planning approvals and major infrastructure upgrades will all need to be finalised before construction can begin.

If delivered, the project would represent one of the largest football-led regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK.

The project would transform not only where Manchester United plays, but how the wider Old Trafford district lives, works and grows.

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