Alanna Kennedy’s girlfriend Sophie Cachia congratulates the Matildas for 2023 Women’s World Cup bid

Ex-AFL WAG Sophie Cachia congratulated her soccer player girlfriend Alanna Kennedy and the rest of the Matildas on winning the Women’s World Cup bid with New Zealand on Friday. 

The mummy blogger, 29, couldn’t contain her pride as she shared a picture with Alanna at the pitch and declared: ‘Another huge win for female sport in our country! See you in 2023 baby!’

Sharing a video of the Matildas celebrating the brilliant news, Sophie gushed over the ‘scale of the announcement’ and admitted that she ‘got goosebumps explaining to her kids how big the news was for women’s sport in Australia and New Zealand.’

Sophie – who shares son Bobby, six, and daughter Florence, two, with ex-husband Jaryd Cachia – enthused:  ‘You don’t need to like soccer or even follow @thematildas (although, support out girls!!) to appreciate the scale of an announcement like this on the world stage. 

‘Explaining to my kids how big this is for women’s sport in Australia & NZ gave me goosebumps.

‘These women are making history by living out their dream playing in a WC on home soil, and it’s incredible opportunity for little boys and girls of the next generation to see these professional athletes perform in a World Cup in real life. 

‘Doesn’t come around often,’ she concluded.  

The trans-Tasman bid received 22 of the 35 valid votes from the FIFA Council overnight to beat Colombia for the showpiece event, which will take place between July and August 2023.

The tournament will be scheduled across 12 cities in Australia and New Zealand, with the opening match to be played at Eden Park in Auckland and the final in Sydney.

It’s particularly exciting news for Sophie’s soccer player girlfriend Alanna, 25 – who she confirmed her romance with in March.   

Sophie announced her split from former Carlton star Jaryd Cachia, 28, in September, after four years of marriage.

At the time, the popular blogger said that she had been asked a lot if she was gay.

‘I’ve been asked a lot lately [if I’m gay] and, for me, it’s that self-discovery period that I’m going through. Am I sitting here a lesbian? No. Am I sitting here saying, ‘I’m not a lesbian?’ No,’ Sophie said on the Shameless podcast.

Sophie said while it’s both ‘sad and exciting’ that she’s starting a new journey, she’s adamant Jaryd is her soulmate and will continue to live with him and their children, son Bobby and daughter Florence.

‘We’re both very happily single and share our stories over cups of tea and biccies at the end of the night,’ she revealed at the time.

‘He is the most perfect person in the whole world. But right now, we can’t be together.’

The couple, who were teenagers when they met, ended their relationship in early 2019 – but avoided publicly confirming the split until September.

Despite the split, Sophie has documented her relationship with her husband, even gushing about Jaryd’s parenting skills on Father’s Day.

She and Jaryd still love one another, but say their separation is a prime example of ‘two kids who fell in love hard early, and are now two adults who love and respect each other enough to part ways amicably’.