Matildas star factors out enormous distinction between Americans and Aussies as she reveals struggles since transferring to the USA
- Goalkeeper rose to fame after 2023 World Cup
Mackenzie Arnold has revealed she was surprised by how Americans support their sporting teams as she struggled to adapt after moving to a new team in the USA.
The 31-year-old has enjoyed some of the best opportunities of her career after she starred in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia.
After leaving West Ham in 2024, she joined the USA based Portland Thorns on a lucrative multi-year contract.
The beginning of Arnold’s stint at the club was made difficult by untimely injuries, and the return of regular goalkeeper Bella Bixby from parental leave.
Bixby is from the USA and a firm favourite with Thorns fans, so Arnold was behind the eight ball right from the start.
‘Being in America is very, very different. The Americans love their own, which is completely understandable … I can understand where the loyalty lies,’ Arnold told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mackenzie Arnold (pictured) has explained how she struggled to win support from her team’s fans when she joined the Portland Thorns in the USA
Arnold (pictured) has opened up about the abuse she’s received from so-called supporters on social media
The 31-year-old (pictured) became a firm fan favourite in Australia during the Matildas’ stunning run in the 2023 World Cup
Arnold was subsequently targeted with abuse on social media.
‘I just wasn’t expecting a lot of that (abuse) to be quite targeted at me,’ she said.
‘I hadn’t really experienced that a lot, and I read into it a lot because I knew I wasn’t playing well.’
The Matildas goalkeeper rose to fame after playing a major role in Australia’s run to the 2023 World Cup semi finals.
But she also revealed the expectation of turning in elite performances week in, week out weighed on her in the months following the tournament.
‘It’s a known thing between the players. So going over on the contract that I was on, there was a lot expected of me,’ she said.
‘(It was almost like) we saw you at the World Cup, what are you going to bring to Portland?’ she said.
Arnold claims the experience with American fans has made her a stronger person.
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Arnold has played 61 matches for Australia across her career spanning more than a decade
Arnold (pictured with partner and Scottish footballer Kirsty Smith) moved to Portland from West Ham in 2024
The Aussie goalkeeper (pictured) signed a lucrative deal with the US-based team
‘It allowed me to also realise that a lot of them don’t know what they’re talking about,’ she said.
They’re just keyboard warriors at the end of the day.
‘I really did use to look at comments after every game, and now I just find myself not doing it.’
Arnold is contracted to Portland through the 2026 season with a mutual option for 2027.
