No more Matildas or Socceroos blockbuster matches if top teams won’t make the trip

The Matildas’ Emily van Egmond fires up the crowd up during the Women's Asian Cup. It may be a while before Australia hosts another major tournament. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The memories flow freely: John Aloisi’s penalty, James Troisi’s Asian Cup winning-goal. There was Mile Jedinak’s hat-trick against Honduras, Cortnee Vine from the spot, or Sam Kerr’s World Cup semi-final goal.

Unfortunately, this era – of unmissable football blockbusters played in front of packed Australian stadiums that brought a nation together – is now at an end.