Football Australia and Ogilvy unveil Matildas-inspired ‘Dream Team’

Football Australia has partnered with Ogilvy to unveil Dream Team, a podcast series inspired by AI and children’s books that will tell the story of the Matildas’ campaign for Paris 2024.

The Matildas begin their Paris 2024 Olympic campaign in Marseille against world number four Germany at 3am Sydney time on Thursday.

All three of Australia’s group stage matches at the Games will kick off at 3am AEST, making it difficult to cheer on the Matildas.

Through the Dream Team Storytime series, fans of all ages will be able to listen to Matildas captain Steph Catley tell the story of the match that took place while they were in bed, thanks to the magic of AI.

After every Australian match, Football Australia will release a new story – narrated by Catley’s – with short animated clips on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

“The Dream Team series is a groundbreaking initiative that underlines our commitment to connecting with the next generation of football fans. By combining the excitement of the Matildas’ Olympic journey with the magic of storytelling, we hope to inspire young Australians to dream big and get involved in the beautiful game,” said Football Australia CEO James Johnson.

“We understand the challenge of early kick-offs, but with the Dream Team series, young fans can relive the emotion of Matildas matches in a way that fits into their schedule. This approach allows us to bring the joy and excitement of the Olympic Games into homes across Australia, ensuring no one misses the action.

“Partnering with Ogilvy on this project has been an incredible experience. Their creative expertise, combined with our shared passion for football, has resulted in a series that is not only entertaining but also educational. We believe this collaboration will leave a lasting impact on the sport and help cultivate a lifelong love of football among young Australians.”

Each Dream Team story will be written in real-time during and immediately after the game, with each episode released later in the day.

Football Australia is delighted to be working with Hillary Badger on the Dream Team project, published author of over 20 books for young readers and executive creative director at Ogilvy Melbourne.

Badger said Football Australia and Ogilvy captured The Matilda’s unwavering attitude with the ‘Til It’s Done campaign, which the whole nation embraced.

“The Matildas truly represent a celebration of women’s sporting achievement that is long overdue. Keeping that spotlight at one of the biggest sporting events is important in inspiring the next generation to get involved in the sport. With the Matildas’ games in France kicking off at 3am EST, it’s a little beyond the kids’ bedtime that the team are looking to inspire,” Badger said.

“The Dream Team series responds to this creative challenge. The Matildas’ matches will be written as children’s stories, ready to be downloaded and listened to just hours after each match. Children will be sure to benefit from the inspiration that the Matildas will bring during their Paris campaign.”

As part of the Dream Team project, Ogilvy is responsible for the creative idea, illustration, copywriting, AI creation and asset deployment.

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