Seven Network has signed a deal with Football Federation Australia (FFA) to broadcast the Westfield Matildas' upcoming Olympic qualifiers, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The commercial free-to-air broadcaster will show all five of Australia's national women's soccer team's pre-Rio 2016 matches, beginning with their game against Japan on 29th February.

Seven will cover the fixture live on its 7mate channel and on its Plus7 streaming service, with further games against Vietnam, South Korea, North Korea and China to be shown in March.

The agreement between Seven and FFA marks the first time that Matildas games will be aired by a free-to-air commercial network in Australia.

"This broadcast agreement with the Seven Network is a breakthrough moment for women's football and due recognition to the deeds of the Matildas at last year's World Cup," said FFA chief executive David Gallop.

"FFA is committed to growing women's football and this is a pleasing sign that the long term strategy we have been undertaking over the last two years with women's football is starting to bear fruit."