Title: Mackenzie Arnold’s Australian Goalkeeper Jersey Now Available for Soccer Fans to Buy
Soccer enthusiasts in Australia and around the world can now purchase Mackenzie Arnold’s Nike jersey, nearly seven months after she wore the distinctive purple top during the Women’s World Cup. The Matildas’ goalkeeper made history by keeping a record-breaking four clean sheets at last year’s tournament, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Football Australia announced in a statement on Monday that Arnold’s jersey would be available to purchase through their contact store from Tuesday, and via retailers starting from Wednesday. The Matildas reached the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time, with Arnold playing a crucial role in securing their place.
In the team’s quarterfinal victory against France, Arnold saved an impressive three penalties during the shootout. The 30-year-old goalkeeper expressed her gratitude to supporters in a statement: “The support we as goalkeepers have felt from our fans over the last year has been absolutely incredible. It means so much to me that we’ll head into another huge year for our team, and our sport, knowing that our families, friends, and fans will be backing us all the way, and wearing our jerseys with pride.”
The sale of goalkeeper jerseys has been a contentious issue in women’s soccer following Nike’s decision not to put the uniform on general sale during last year’s World Cup. England shot-stopper Mary Earps spearheaded a campaign urging Nike to sell the women’s goalkeeper jerseys ahead of the tournament. In response, the sports apparel company made goalkeeper jerseys from four teams – England, US, France, and the Netherlands – available for sale in August.
Nike’s Pacific vice president and general manager, Ashley Reade, stated in a Football Australia press release: “With this release, our first-ever replica goalkeeper jersey for an Australian football team, we look forward to seeing Aussie fans continue to show their support for the entire Matildas’ squad in another huge year for sport.”
The jerseys are priced at 125 Australian dollars (approximately $82) for adults and 100 Australian dollars (around $66) for youth sizes. The Matildas are set to compete against Uzbekistan in an Olympic qualifying match on Wednesday, with Australia being the favorite to secure a spot at this year’s Games in Paris following their 3-0 win in the first leg.
By purchasing Mackenzie Arnold’s jersey, fans can not only express their admiration and support for her exceptional performances but also be part of the Matildas’ journey as they continue to make history in women’s soccer.
