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Today, Australia is still celebrating.
After a nail-biting penalty shootout in Saturday's Women's World Cup match against France, the Matildas are officially through to the semifinals.
This historic moment marks the furthest that any Australian soccer team — men or women — have progressed in a World Cup.
For the first time in sporting history, Australia has a real shot at becoming World Cup champions.
But among the celebrating a question has emerged: If the Matildas win the World Cup, will a public holiday be declared?
Here's what we know.
PM and NSW premier behind public holiday
For weeks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been hyping up the possibility of a public holiday for a Matildas win.
Speaking to ABC last week, he even said that while it's ultimately up to the states and territories, he would personally push for it.
"Then they go into a semifinal on Wednesday, which happens to be the day of [national cabinet]," he said.
"So certainly, I’ll be raising with all the premiers and chief ministers, seeking their views on the potential to have a day off."
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also backed the idea.
"We'd love to back the Matildas with a public holiday," he said in a statement read on 4GB.
When will we know if we get a public holiday?
Probably some time on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Minns said the idea of a public holiday would be brought up at the national cabinet meeting — which meets with the prime minister as state and territory leaders — on Wednesday.
"We'll work with the other states and the Commonwealth to get the right date," he said.
Small businesses aren't keen on the idea
Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Greg Harford told ABC News a public holiday would increase business running costs and lower productivity.
"Look, if the Matildas win the World Cup then obviously we have to celebrate, but doing that through a public holiday will probably not be great for business," he said.
National Party leader David Littleproud echoed these concerns on ABC Insiders.
"It's easy to call for a national holiday when someone else is paying for it," he said.
"We've just got to understand that someone's got to foot that bill and businesses out there are doing it tough.
"We live in a great nation, we can celebrate our wins but we've got to get on and pay our bills."
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce questioned why a World Cup win would warrant a public holiday when other Australian teams have had successes.
"Why didn't we have a day off after the Diamonds won — they would have put in just as much effort as anybody else," he said.
"When we go well in the Olympics are we going to have a day off after that?"
However, Mr Albanese brushed off concerns about small business, saying the same issues were raised over the public holiday for Queen Elizabeth's death last year.
"The world doesn't stop on a public holiday," he said.
"I remember when we did the national day of mourning for the Queen that was designated as part of the process that had been set down years in advance, there was some of the fears about what would happen, and small businesses had the biggest boost if you were in the hospitality industry that they'd had in a very long time.
"Regardless of what happens we need to have a proper celebration of the Matildas and their achievements."
Can a prime minister declare a national public holiday?
Generally, no.
New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only national public holidays.
All other public holidays are individually declared by the states and territories.
It's why the King's Birthday holiday is in June for half the country but in October for Queensland and September for Western Australia.
Last year, Mr Albanese had to write to state and territory leaders to ask them to declare a public holiday to mourn Queen Elizabeth's death.
Has a PM ever declared a national public holiday?
Kind of, but not officially.
In 1983, the yacht Australia II, owned and built by a West Australian syndicate helmed by Alan Bond, won the America's Cup boat race.
It was the first time in 132 years that a country other than the USA had won the cup.
The day after the historic victory, then-prime minister Bob Hawke said the iconic words that are still remembered today.
"Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum."
No official parliamentary declaration was made.
But the nation had the unofficial permission from the prime minister to bunk off work.
WA is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the America's Cup win with a string of events on Sunday, September 24.
It's very well-timed, given the following day — Monday, September 25 —was already set down as a public holiday for the King's Birthday.
PM's bet wins France's support
Mr Albanese has been vocal about his support of the Matildas on social media, propositioning French President Emmanuel Macron for a wager on Saturday's game.
On X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, Mr Albanese said he'd support France if they won, but challenged Mr Macron to support Australia if the Matildas won:
On Sunday, Mr Macron confirmed he was backing the Matildas:
What public holidays are there for sporting events?
Two states hold annual public holidays for sporting events.
South Australia's Adelaide Cup has had it's own March public holiday since 1973.
Victoria has two public holidays for sporting events: one for the Friday before the AFL grand final and one for the Melbourne cup.
Editor's Note 14/08/2023: This article has been updated to correct an error saying WA has a public holiday on August 25. The public holiday is on September 25.