Three of the most respected personalities in football broadcasting have been announced to lead Optus Sport’s live coverage for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 which starts in July.
Former Matilda Amy Duggan will be joined by experienced football match hosts Niav Owens and Kelly Somers to front Optus Sports coverage alongside its panel of experts.
Amy Duggan, a 27-times capped Matilda, is a regular on the Optus Sport couch, hosting its live Womens Super League coverage, while Niav Owens led SBS coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 last year, including the final.
Football fans will also recognise match host Kelly Somers from her expert work across Premier League, and Womens Super League broadcasts for the BBC.
Speaking on the announcement, Amy Duggan said: “We have some of the world’s best players playing for our Matildas here on home soil and my message to you is get out, get your tickets and get involved. And if you can’t get to a game, of course, watch it all on Optus Sport.
“We are going to have the best talent from across the globe on the world stage, barring a few big-name injuries who won’t be able to join us. But I don’t see that necessarily as a detractor, in fact, it just leaves a space for the next generation of talent to come through. They’re the ones I’m looking forward to the unknown names that will really stand up on the world stage and become household names.”
Niav Owens added: “I love that Optus Sport has each and every game live. The ability to get to know the players and their backgrounds and their stories throughout the tournament will be such a special part of Optus’ coverage.
“World Cups are just a vibe like no other. There is this passion and excitement that exists throughout the tournament and when you get to work on them, you take these deep dives into every damn minute of the tournament, which is such a special thing to experience with the whole team. The fact that I get to live that, and live that high, twice in six months how good.”
Kelly Somers said: “The most important thing for me is football is meant to be fun and enjoyable. We watch football to kind of escape from some of the other pressures of life. So, I always want to be warm, enthusiastic and hope my love for the game comes across. I also don’t take myself too seriously and I will not be letting any of the pundits take themselves too seriously either.”
Optus Sport is the official Australian broadcaster of the FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 and will be the only place you can watch all 32 teams in action and all 64 matches live and on-demand in Australia.
Head of Optus Sport Howard Rees believes the experience of the match hosting team announced underlines the importance of the tournament.
He said: The countdown to the FIFA Womens World Cup is well and truly on and excitement is building at Optus Sport as we announce Amy, Niav and Kelly as our three hosts for the official Australian broadcast.
Each of these talented women bring decades of experience and knowledge to the table, as well as their own unique insights into the world of womens football and the importance of this tournament.
The opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 between New Zealand and Norway takes place on 20 July in Auckland, and you can watch it on Optus Sport.
