The Matildas will play a farewell soccer match against China at Adelaide Oval in May before heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The South Australian government said Australia was expected to face off against China in the friendly game on Friday, May 31.

It will be the first time the Matildas have played in Adelaide since November 2019, when the team defeated Chile 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium which attracted more than 10,000 people.

The team secured their qualification for the Paris Olympics last month when they thrashed Uzbekistan 10-0 in Melbourne in front of a crowd of 54,000.

South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide the game would highlight the value of women’s sport to younger Australians. 

Mr Malinauskas said the government had been in negotiations with Football Australia about attracting high-level football to South Australia. 

Peter Malinauskas says the government had been in negotiations with Football Australia.(AAP: James Ross)

“The stars aligned and we were able to reach an agreement and we’re pretty happy about that,” he said.

“We’ve got a very significant cohort of young South Australians who love the Tillies and I sort of submitted to them that it’s not just about the money, they’ve actually got a responsibility to play in other places around the country.”

Mr Malinauskas did not say how much it cost South Australian taxpayers to lure the Matildas to Adelaide.

Tickets for the Adelaide Oval game go on sale on Friday and will cost $35 for adults, $20 for juniors and $90 for families.

Adelaide Comets player Sophia Tambakis said she was thrilled to see the Matildas in Adelaide for the first time. 

“I’m so excited because I’ve always wanted to see them in person,” she said.

“But every time they’re in Australia it’s always in Sydney or Melbourne, but this time it’s in South Australia so everyone can come to the game.

“Matildas are going to win that game and it’s going to be a great warm-up for them.”

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