Football Tasmania has celebrated the achievement of Nathaniel Atkinson, who helped the Socceroos qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by beating Peru this morning.
Atkinson, who started and played 90 minutes before being substituted, will be the first Tasmanian Socceroo to play at a FIFA World Cup if he makes the final squad to travel to Qatar in November.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley congratulated Atkinson, saying his achievements would inspire young Tasmanians to follow their footballing dreams.
“I’m sure I speak for all Tasmanians who braved the early start to watch this morning’s match in saying we are immensely proud of Nathaniel Atkinson,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“Nathaniel is only a recent addition to the Socceroos, but after a string of strong performances, including this morning’s, it looks likely he will be selected to travel to Qatar and become Tasmania’s first World Cup player.
“If he is selected in the final squad, there will be tens of thousands of Tasmanians cheering his every move from home, and young Tasmanian boys and girls will have a home-grown, World Cup role model to inspire them to follow their footballing dreams.
“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup also scheduled to kick off on Australian shores in the middle of 2023, it’s looking like a perfect storm of inspiration for even more Tasmanians to pull on the boots and take up the state’s most-played team sport.”