The Matildas are the pride of the nation. And four of them just got engaged.

Right now, the world is obsessing over the magic of the Matildas. 

The football team have just made it into the semi-final stage after beating France 7-6 in an intense penalty shootout. 

While the Matildas are fighting for World Cup victory, their partners are cheering them on with the rest of Australia (or even playing themselves). 

From four engagements to a chance encounter on the field, here is everything we know about these Matilda relationships.

Emily van Egmond and Kat Thompson.

The Matildas midfielder knew Kat Thompson was the one for her "early on" in their relationship.

After meeting in 2022, it was clear their relationship was special, Emily told New Idea. 

"I feel like she brings out a really good side of me," she shared. "I’m very happy."

And in May 2023, Emily proposed to Kat on a cliff overlooking the ocean in San Diego, California. 

Emily van Egmond and Kat Thompson. Image: Instagram @emilyvanegmond10

"From the first date there’s never been holding back, it’s been so comfortable – as if I’ve known her a lot longer," Kat told the publication. 

The pair are notoriously secretive about their relationship, but we do know that Emily splits her time between the US and Australia to play football. We also know the couple are planning to wed in the athlete's home country.

"We are aiming for the summer," she told New Idea. "It’s not going to be a massive crazy wedding."

The Matildas star announced the news on Instagram right before the World Cup started. She explained she always wants to "enjoy" the game. 

"For me personally, the key is just to enjoy it, and to play with a smile on my face," the athlete shared in June, per 7News.

"Be competitive, come in the best shape possible, and give myself the best possible chance to be selected for the World Cup."

Ellie Carpenter and Daniëlle van de Donk.

Ellie Carpenter and Daniëlle van de Donk. Image: Instagram @elliecarpenterr.

Ellie and Daniëlle are not just happily in love, they're also teammates... and potential rivals at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Ellie is currently representing her country in the World Cup, playing as a defender for the French club Olympique Lyonnais. Daniëlle is a soccer prodigy from the Netherlands who is also representing her home country in the World Cup, too. 

The pair met when the Dutch sportswoman joined the French football club Lyon, where Ellie played too. 

The pair sparked dating rumours in February 2022 when they were spotted having dinner together on Valentine's Day. However, nothing was confirmed until three months later when both athletes celebrated the Lyons winning the Champions League. 

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A post shared by Daniëlle van de Donk (@daniellevddonk)

In a photo shared on Instagram, the pair were both seen wearing medals and holding the cup. Daniëlle captioned the picture with, "This one is special."

The couple travelled to Australia in August of that year, where Ellie told The Australian her girlfriend had gotten on a ferry to visit the zoo.

"It's the best way to see the harbour," she said. "We went to Taronga Zoo to see the koalas and kangaroos because she'd never seen them either. She still talks about it."

Elly Carpenter and Daniëlle van de Donk. Image: Instagram @elliecarpenterr.

While the pair rarely speak about each other in interviews, they do share their love for one another on social media, often posting photos together. 

Ellie is playing for Australia in the World Cup, while Daniëlle is representing the Netherlands — but both teams have made it to the quarterfinals, meaning it's likely we will get to watch them go head-to-head in a match. 

Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis.

The Australia #2 and the United States #6 may be competitors on the field, but they're as loved-up as can be off it.

The pair sparked dating rumours in 2021 when they were seen embracing after Sam lost a game to Team USA. 

Less than a week after the viral tender moment, the Australian sportswoman confirmed her relationship on social media with a post of the pair kissing. 

Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis. Image: Instagram @samanthakerr20.

Both Sam and Kristie competed at the Tokyo Olympics and in November 2021, Kristie opened up about the reality of being in a long-distance relationship. 

"I hadn't seen her in so long, so, of course, it was like crazy that we were going to be at the Olympics together and crazy that we were going to be playing each other," the American athlete told Just Women's Sports Snacks podcast.

"It was obviously so cool that she was there and that we were playing them, but also obviously with COVID-19 times and stuff like that … I couldn't really see her that much. And it had been so long already — it had been months."

Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis. Image: Instagram @samanthakerr20.

Two years into their relationship, Sam shared what it is like dating a competitor. She told the UK publication Gaffer about their intense chemistry. 

"It was about three or four months until we could hang out in person," the Aussie athlete recalled. 

"The first time we ever met there was quarantine so we had to spend two weeks together the first time we met.

She added: "I was thinking if I don't like her this is going to be awkward."

Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis. Image: Instagram @samanthakerr20.

The couple are currently playing opposite sides at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Katrina Gorry and Clara Markstedt.

Australian-born football player Katrina Gorry did not know she would meet the love of her life when she went to Sweden. The local club Vittsjö had recruited the athlete, but it is where she met fellow teammate, Clara Markstedt.

Katrina was happy, single and had even given birth to her daughter, Harper, in August 2021 through IVF, when she met Clara. 

"I knew that 2021 was kind of my year. I did want to fall pregnant, with or without a partner, so I decided that I would give IVF a go," she told the ABC at the time.

After meeting, the pair immediately hit it off and three months into playing for the Swedish football club, Katrina asked Clara to be her partner by writing on a shirt worn by Harper, "Will you be my mum's girlfriend?"

"The last thing I was coming to Sweden for was to find love," Katrina told Woman's Day.

"I think Clara was sending different signals, but I wasn't picking up on them. I think my mum picked up on it before I did!"

Katrina Gorry and Clara Markstedt. Image: Instagram @cmarkstedt.

And in June 2023, the pair got engaged after 13 months of dating. 

"We had a picnic by the water, played some cards and Clara showed me a video of our past year together," the Australian athlete told Woman's Day. 

"She wrote me a letter, told me to close my eyes and got down on one knee. It was beautiful."

"I said no at first because I was in shock and then I said, 'Of course, yes!'" she said.

Katrina Gorry and Clara Markstedt. Image: Instagram @cmarkstedt.

The couple has not revealed a lot of details about their big day (yet!) but has shared they plan to tie the knot on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays in 2025.

Steph Catley and Dean Bouzanis.

Steph Catley and Dean Bouzanis. Image: Instagram @stephcatley.

After a chance encounter in Melbourne, while footballers Steph Catley and Dean Bouzanis were playing in the W-League and A-League, it was clear the pair had chemistry. 

It wasn't before long that Dean slid into Steph's DMs on Instagram after she walked past him at a shopping centre. She didn't see him waving. 

"I think he was just too shy to say hello!" she shared. "So that's how Dean and I started talking, and that's how he got me hook, line and sinker."

The couple officially began dating in January 2017, with Dean admitting they had kept it quiet for a while. 

"It's unusual for two people at the same club to start dating," he shared. 

But just three months into their relationship, Steph had to fly to the United States to play for Orlando Pride. Dean took a risk and flew to spend the off-season with her. 

"That was only about three and a half months into our relationship, so it was a big move on his behalf that early on," Steph said to The Atlantic. "But if he hadn't done that, it probably wouldn't have worked because I was in America for so long. At the beginning of a relationship, that's probably too much distance without knowing someone that well."

And in January 2023, Dean proposed, dressing up their dog Calvin in a tuxedo and decorating their home with red heart balloons and a "Marry Me" sign. 

Steph Catley and Dean Bouzanis. Image: Instagram @stephcatley.

Steph has since returned to Australia to play in her third World Cup. 

Emily Gielnik and Temica Sayer.

Emily Gielnik and Temica Sayer. Image: Instagram @emilygielnik.

Emily Gielnik, who has represented the Matildas over 57 times, has been in a relationship with her fiancé Temica Sayer for eight years. 

And while not much is known about their romance, Emily admitted that there was once a time when she didn't feel comfortable sharing her happiness with the world. 

"My mum being Croatian... being gay was frowned upon, so I never saw how I was going to come out and tell my family," she said on the Disney+ documentary, Matildas: The World At Our Feet.

"So I tried everything to live this lie for years. There was a lot of dark times."

She is just one of the many legends who have had to deal with harmful stereotypes and homophobic abuse in the sport, but she said football was "the saving grace".

In the Disney+ documentary, viewers at home got to watch as Emily flew in from the UK a day earlier than planned so she could propose to Temica. 

"I reckon I've done the flight 40-45 times from Australia to Europe. This was one of the rough ones. There were no sleeping pills that were going to alleviate what was going on in that flight. I was overthinking a fair few things," she said. 

"I'm nervous thinking about it, I'm sweating [but] I'm ready to marry the girl of my dreams."

Emily Gielnik and Temica Sayer. Image: Instagram @emilygielnik.

The proposal didn't go exactly as planned, but it didn't make it any less special. 

"I went blank, I literally froze. Everything that I planned to say I left in the hotel room," the footballer recalled.

"It was really Temica who helped me break down finally being okay being in a same-sex relationship," she shared. "She deserves this more than anyone. It should have been a long time ago but better late than never."

Feature Image: Instagram @stephcatley, @cmarkstedt, @emilyvanegmond10.

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