Optus Sport unveils all-female host lineup for Women’s World Cup coverage
Optus Sport, the main broadcaster of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, has unveiled an all-female host lineup to lead the tournament’s live coverage in July.
Former Matilda Amy Duggan will be joined by experienced football match hosts Niav Owens and Kelly Somers to front Optus Sport’s coverage alongside its panel of experts.
L-R: Somers, Duggan and Owens
Duggan is a 27-times-capped Matilda, while Owens hosted SBS’ FIFA World Cup coverage last year. Somers has previously worked as a match host across Premier League and Women’s Super League broadcasts for the BBC.
Duggan said: “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.”
Owens added that “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.”
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.”
Head of Optus Sport, Howard Rees, said: “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 women’s football and the importance of this tournament.”
Optus Sport secured its rights to all 64 matches in 2021, having previously broadcast the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The opening match between New Zealand and Norway will take place on 20 July in Auckland.
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Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
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