A self-identified extroverted introvert, Mackenzie Arnold is as charming as she is quick-witted.

The 30 year-old Matildas star recently – and dramatically – switched up her club football career. She made the move from UK's West Ham United (where she was the team captain) over to the American league – where she now plays for Portland. It's something that she says is one of her proudest achievements. "I think it's something that is definitely out of my comfort zone, and something that I probably wouldn't have done a couple years ago."

It's a change that capped off a huge 12 months for the goal keeper. She transitioned to the starting lineup for the Matildas, she competed in the FIFA World Cup, and then the Paris 2024 Olympics. It's something she says has reminded her that it's never too late to start.

We sat down with Arnold for a chat on a sunny Queensland morning to discuss everything from her star sign (she's a Pisces) and who was on her Spotify Wrapped (she's a Belieber) to her diploma in nutrition and that penalty shoot out. Here, she shares what she's most excited for in the future and why the Matildas fan base is one of the best in the world.

What's something that most people don't know about you, but you wish that they did?

Gosh, I'm a bit of an open book at the moment to be honest. I would usually have said my hearing, but now that's out in the open and pretty spoken about.

Maybe that I'm an introvert? I feel like from the outside when you see me - especially around the Matildas - you'd think that I'm pretty outgoing. But when I'm in an uncomfortable situation or at the start, I'm pretty introverted. That's probably something that people don't know about me.

I'm an extrovert when I'm comfortable, like after I've met my met people for a while, then I'm okay. At the start, I would say I'm a bit of an introvert, for sure.

What's your current favourite movie? And musical artist?

Musical artist, I would say, is Luke Coombs. I'm a bit of a country person.

But, movies are hard. I really haven't watched a lot of movies. Honestly – I don't know why – but I feel like if I'm always looking for like a like a comfort movie. I always go things like Cheaper by the Dozen, or Bench Warmers or Bridesmaids. Something funny, that's an easy watch. I don't really have one favourite movie.

Who was on your Spotify Wrapped?

A lot of country artists. Actually, there was Luke Coombs and Morgan Wallen. Chris Stapleton, I think was in there. And then, of course, I always have Justin Bieber. He's always in there no matter what.

It's been an intense year following the Women's World Cup 2023. What's your proudest achievement to date?

Of course, the World Cup was definitely my proudest moment, the team's proudest moment. The penalty shoot out was very intense, and I think, an accomplishment that we probably weren't expected to achieve going to the World Cup. But I think following the World Cup, I think it's been a pretty intense couple months.

For myself, personally, I think making the move to the US is probably my proudest moment. I think it's something that is definitely out of my comfort zone, and something that I probably wouldn't have done a couple years ago. I think I knew it was time for a change in my career. Being able to pack up, move countries and start fresh, it was pretty big for me. I'm just proud of myself that I'll be I was able to do that.

You and team have reach a whole new level of fame very quickly. How are you managing that experience?

It's pretty easy, to be honest. I feel especially because we play overseas. When we leave Australia, we're sort of able to get back into our own bubble and block out all of the publicity and all the pressure. But when we come back to Australia, it's always so special to see, and to be reminded of what we've done.

I guess it's always like, the hype is still there every time we come home, and we're still selling out stadiums. It's still special to be able to realise what we've done and what we've achieved with the team and how much we've changed football in Australia. So I wouldn't say there's much to handle.

I still think it's quite a privilege to be able to do what we do. It's very cool when people come up to you in the streets and recognise you now. I'm not really feeling that pressure, to be honest.

I guess the fan base is a really positive and very supportive, so that must help?

Totally. I agree.

How do you like to get in the zone ahead of a big game? How do you manage that sort of anxiety?

Music's always been a pretty big thing for me, especially on the bus to the games. I feel like over the years, not playing for so long and then coming into the starting spot pretty quickly. I've always turned to music to calm myself.

I don't like thinking about the game too early on. And, of course, we have our games at night, so we've got all day to think about it. For me, being able to put music on and just like, zone out.

I don't really listen to any 'pump-up' stuff. I just chill out until we go out for warm up. That's probably been my best way to cope.

Do you have a song that you like to listen to before a game in particular?

No, not really. I'll honestly just put my playlist on and I'll just whatever's on there. It's always stuff that I usually like, so I'll flip through a couple of songs. It's not usually any like "doof, doof" head banging stuff. It's quite low key, pretty chill stuff – just the stuff that I enjoy listening to.

I'm using the Dyson OnTrac headphones. They're really good for me. With the noise canceling and immersive sound and everything.

What's your favourite colour combination of the OnTrac? Do you like the all black?

That's one of my favourite parts is how you can change the colours. Fashion, for me – you're always in your like, national team uniform, or whatever it is. Being able to change the colours of my Dyson OnTrac and make it your look your own - that's my favourite part. They're unreal.

I usually have all black, and then the caps, I'll change the colour on the cap to something bright – like the blue or the orange. That is usually my favourite just because I'm sort of simple, and I always wear, like, black, grey, white. To be able to have like, a cool colour on the OnTrac, I just think it was really cool.

What are you most excited for in the future?

Gosh, I probably say in the near future would be just starting a pre-season with Portland. I came into it mid-season last year, and it was really hard to pick up where I left off and sort of get used to the league so quickly. I feel like being able to have a full pre-season with them, get used to the team, get used to the style of play. I'm just excited to start fresh.

What has it been like moving to the US? How is Portland different? Is it a completely different vibe?

I would say it's a little bit more similar to Australia, and in terms of lifestyle compared to the UK. I think it probably helped with the move that the sun was out when I first got there, which is very different to England.

I would say the biggest difference would be the the soccer – like the style of play. I'm just getting used to that.

But it's definitely been a difference in regards to even my living situation. Now I'm living by myself. I had to fully deck out my own apartment, which is the first time I've ever done that. It's definitely been a challenge for me, but obviously one that I think I needed at the time.

Did you have to go and buy all your own furniture and everything?

I did. I started completely from scratch, which is something that I've never done. So it was exciting, but very expensive as well. Haha.

What can Australian fans of yourself and the Matildas do to support you best? How can we be the best possible fans of the team?

I honestly would say, keep doing what you're doing. You can tell when we're at home, and I think you could tell from the World Cup that fans honestly get you over the line.

I always go back to the Canada game, our last group stage game, when we had to win, and they were the Olympic champions. All of a sudden we ended up going out there and winning 4-0. We really, like, turned to the crowd for that.

We really felt them each and every game. And I think that's honestly a massive part of our success and why we were so successful at the World Cup. Keep doing what they're doing. We think they're one of the best fan bases in the world. So yeah, I've got no feedback for that. Haha.

What's your star sign?

Pisces.

Who are your personal heroes?

I've never really had idols growing up. I think because we were such a Rugby league family and I played soccer, it was never really like that. But I did always used to love Darren Lockyer and Mark Schwarzer. Then I would say it's my family. I've never really had idols, but I've definitely had a lot of influential people throughout my life, for sure.

What advice would you give to young people who aspire to play sports professionally?

I think my biggest learning curve growing up was in the younger years – the number of sacrifices you had to make as a kid. I think you're not really prepared to make those, you don't really know what comes with being a professional athlete and how much you actually miss out on with people or friends that aren't in that same area and don't really understand.

And then secondly, as cliche as it sound, it's never too late. I think I said that in my book, it's never too late to start your career. Like, I feel like I only just started mine, what? two years ago? And I'm 30 years old now, and I think a lot of the time I would have thought, "that's it. I'll never start" or, you know, "I'm getting too old." But I think if you want it bad enough, then it eventually comes around if you work hard enough.

What's the best health or wellbeing advice that you've ever received?

When I did my nutrition diploma, I got the advice myself.

I would say it's to eat what you want and be comfortable in what you want to do. I think for the longest time that there was such a stigma around not being able to eat carbs or fats or whatever it is. And I think learning now that that really had nothing to do with it. As long as you're living a healthy lifestyle and being active in some way and eating what's good for your body, then you're all good. I just think, like, there's such a stigma around weight loss and everything in that realm. I didn't like that part of growing up, especially as a young athlete.

I think you just need to learn what's good for your body, what works for you, what makes you happy.

What is your favourite thing to do in your downtime? Like, how do you relax?

If the sun is out, I'll go outside. And, I would always hang out with my family if I'm home.

When I'm in Portland or England, I would usually just chill out, to be honest. I come home from training and I feel like we're so tired. The one thing you want to do is be off my phone for a start. I hate calling. I hate texting. I'm so bad on my phone. Just being able to chill out, watch some sort of bad TV, Love Island or something. Switch off for a bit, you know?