Momentum builds for Matildas ahead of Paris Olympic Games as Football Australia and Allianz announce new partnership

Momentum for the Matildas is sweeping across the nation, as the team prepares for the Paris Olympic Games and looks to the next generation of female soccer superstars along the way. The Matildas took time out of their training regime to drop in a video call, and share inspiring words to encourage 12-year-old Ashleigh to stay in the sport, after new research from Allianz revealed a third of Australian children planned to drop out of sport by the time they were 15 years old. Ashleigh has been playing soccer for about seven years and said it was an amazing experience to speak with a team she admires. “It was really helpful to hear tips from the team, which were so inspiring and something I will never forget,” she said. “Soccer is something I want to keep playing as I get older and level up so hopefully one day I will be playing with the Matilda’s and captain the team. “I am never going to stop.” Ashleigh said she was so excited to see the girls play at the Paris Olympics and would be cheering them on from home. “I know they will do really well and I am really excited to see the girls and how they play,” she said. “I have three favourite players Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler and Ellie Carpenter. “I think they will do very well regardless of whether they get a medal or not, it will be so exciting to watch after all that training and hard work they have put in.” While the Allianz research revealed Australian sport faces an uncertain talent pool in years to come, it also found sporting role models and major sporting events such as the Olympic Games were motivators to keep children of all abilities to stay in sport. On Tuesday, Allianz announced a new partnership with Football Australia as their Official Insurance Partner. The new multi-year partnership will mark the next chapter in both organisations’ commitment to securing the future of Australian soccer. Football Australia chief executive officer James Johnson said they were delighted to welcome Allianz to their football family. “Their commitment to inclusivity and community empowerment mirrors our own values and vision for football in Australia,” he said. “This partnership will not only provide crucial support for our national teams but also inspire the next generation of Australian talent. “We look forward to a successful and collaborative partnership.” Allianz chief general manager Shez Ford said the company had a long history of supporting sport at so many levels and were excited to partner with Football Australia. “We are all about building an inclusive and diverse sporting landscape that is accessible to everybody and we think that football is such a fabulous way to do that,” she said. “Football is close to our heart we have seven stadiums across the globe that we sponsor including Sydney. “In Australia, football is having such a big moment and we want to be part of that and are really excited to work with Football Australia. “Hopefully we fire up the next generation of sports people in Australia.”