Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham and the Matildas-laden Arsenal will join Newcastle United in Melbourne this year for exhibition matches at the MCG and Docklands.
Tottenham will take on Newcastle United in a midweek friendly at the MCG on May 22, while Arsenal — including Matildas stars Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross — will headline a friendly against an A-League All Stars game on May 24.
Newcastle United’s men’s team will play a curtain-raiser before that match, also against an A-League All Stars squad.
Tottenham’s chief football officer, Scott Munn, said he hoped all of Tottenham’s star players would be available despite the match occurring just two days after the club’s final EPL match of the season.
“I think there’s only one player [Timo Werner] that’s getting married that weekend, so he probably won’t travel,” Munn said.
The matches will be played during the AFL season, with the MCG hosting Aussie Rules games on May 19 and 25, while Docklands while host games on May 23 and 25.
The A-League Men’s grand final is set to be played on May 25 or 26.
Former Socceroo and current Spurs staffer Mile Jedinak said he hoped the games would help Australians get into football.
“I just take myself back to my own childhood and we had some big games where I watched on TV and it was all inspirational, so I see this event as no different,” he said.
“Where that leads people in the end, only time will tell, but we can plant the seed of inspiration.”