Nike bows to fans’ demands with sale of Matildas goalkeeping shirts
Nike has pledged to make Matildas goalkeeping shirts available to buy for future major tournaments, after accepting it “didn’t serve those fans” who wanted to get their hands on an official Mackenzie Arnold shirt during the Women’s World Cup.
The Matildas next tournament, if they qualify, would be the 2024 Paris Olympics starting in July.
Arnold became a new sensation in Australia after saving four penalties in the quarter-final shootout against France which the Matildas won 7-6.
However, many Australia fans were disappointed to realise they could not buy replicas of Arnold’s jersey, with some clothing outlets opting to design their own paying tribute to the goalkeeper as a “brick wall”.
The issue was also highlighted by England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps who said before the tournament that she was angry that fans could not buy her England shirt.
“It is something I have been fighting behind closed doors,” Earps told the Guardian at the time. “I have been trying to go through the correct channels as much as possible … I have been desperately trying to find a solution with the FA and with Nike.
“Unfortunately, it has become very evident that is not possible and there is not going to be an acceptable solution for the young kids out there. On a personal level, it is hugely hurtful considering the last 12 months especially. There has been an incredible rise in goalkeeping participation.”
As calls grew during the tournament for Nike to sell Earps’ and other goalkeepers’ shirts, the company announced it would sell “limited” England, USA, France and the Netherlands goalkeeper shirts, but Australia was not included.
The same day Football Australia and Nike renewed their partnership for another 10 years, Nike said they wanted to support the Matildas goalkeeper and will make jerseys available for future major tournaments.
The Nike Pacific vice-president and general manager, Ashley Reade, said jersey sales at the World Cup surpassed the company’s expectations.
“We recognise that during the tournament we didn’t serve those fans who wished to show their support to the squad’s goalkeepers and are committed to, and are working with, Football Australia to ensure we retail women’s goalkeeping jerseys for major tournaments in the future,” Reade said.
“Before this tournament, we planned accordingly for the Matildas to go deep and [the] Aussies more than met our expectations, with record jersey sales surpassing 2019 numbers 19-fold.
“Along with the nation, all of us at Nike continue to be inspired by the Matildas and are working hard to serve fans with the biggest and best team collections.”
The Matildas are aiming to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics as their next major tournament, but Nike did not specify when their goalkeeper jerseys would be available to buy.
Matildas match jerseys have been sold out across the country since the World Cup, and it is not clear when they will be back in stock.
The Matildas play two friendlies in Canada on 2 and 6 of December, before their final round of Olympic qualification against Uzbekistan starting in February.
