The Sydney Harbour Bridge shut down on Sunday as thousands of fans joined FIFA Women’s World Cup celebrations ahead of next month’s showpiece event Down Under.

To mark the 25-day countdown until the World Cup gets underway in Australia and New Zealand, Sydney’s iconic bridge closed to traffic, with more than 4,000 supporters taking part in the one-in-a-lifetime “Unity Celebration”.

The World Cup is set to get begin on July 20, with New Zealand hosting Norway at Eden Park before the Matildas welcome Republic of Ireland to Accor Stadium later that day.

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“Today marks three years to the day since we won the right to co-host the 2023 edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and what a fitting way to celebrate atop one of the most iconic and recognisable structures in the world,” said Football Australia CEO James Johnson.

“Today, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was closed to celebrate football. This is a significant moment for our game and is something which the Australian football community should take pride in and savour – this is our time.

“In 25-days, we will be cheering on the CommBank Matildas when they take on the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia in front of an expected sell-out crowd. This is a golden window for Australian football where from 20 July to 20 August, the country will experience a festival of football like never before. We are ready to welcome the world and cannot wait for the tournament to kick-off. 

“We thank FIFA and the New South Wales Government for their partnership, and the thousands in attendance, for making today possible and giving Australians and citizens of the world a day to remember.”

FIFA Council Member Johanna Wood, said: “What a fabulous morning of football, culture and community coming together.

“We are committed to delivering an exceptional tournament and experience that will not only captivate the hearts and minds of football fans but also empower women in sport across the globe. We are ready to go Beyond Greatness and football, once again, has demonstrated how it unites the world.”