PM re-affirms Public Holiday pledge if Matildas make World Cup final

The Matildas are already carrying the sporting hopes and dreams of the nation during their home Women's World Cup campaign, but that pressure is set to increase with PM Anthony Albanese confirming this week that he will still move to establish a public holiday if they can make the tournament final on August 20.

The Prime Minister has confirmed that he will use next week's National Cabinet meeting with all State Premiers to push for a national public holiday. He had originally hinted at the move back in June, well before the tournament had started.

The Matildas will play Denmark tonight in Sydney at 830pm in the Round of 16, with a match against Morocco or France in the quarter-finals should they prevail, and another clash after that just to make the final game of the tournament.

The Prime Minister claims he'll campaign for a public holiday if the Matildas make the final, regardless of the result.

The show of support comes less than 24 hours after the United States' penalty-shootout defeat to Sweden, which was followed by a vitriolic level of criticism from some corners of social media.