CommBank ParaMatildas assemble for Women’s World Cup Pre-Departure Camp

The CommBank ParaMatildas will complete their preparations for the 2022 IFCPF Women’s World Cup with a four day camp at Valentine Sports Park in Sydney. 

Commencing on 3 May, head coach Kelly Stirton will bring in a 12-player training squad as she looks to narrow down her selections for Australia’s first-ever women’s internationals later this month. 

The camp will enable Stirton and her technical team to continue to build cohesion and team chemistry ahead of their first-ever international and World Cup appearance against the Netherlands Futbol Salou in Spain. 

Ahead of the camp, Stirton said although the April camp was a great introduction to the national team environment for players and staff alike, the pre-departure will see a sharper focus on being ready for kick-off in just over a week. 

“The April camp was important for us in terms of the intangibles but when we enter this pre-departure camp there will be a greater focus on the areas that will help us be successful in Spain,” Stirton said. 

Head coach Kelly Stirton
CommBank ParaMatildas Head Coach Kelly Stirton during the April camp (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

“I am looking forward to seeing how the players return to the national team environment and to welcoming some new faces.  Many of them have been working hard on their own skills improvement, strength and conditioning and this camp provide an important opportunity for us to combine the individual work with a team gameplan.”

Heading into her second camp, CommBank ParaMatildas defender Matilda Mason expressed her nervous anticipation for the camp with the World Cup just on the horizon. 

“The possibility of representing my country is becoming extremely, extremely real, exciting, but nervous,” Mason said.  “This is our chance to shine and show Australia and the world that women and girls with a disability deserve the chance to live their full dreams. Everyone deserves to have the chance, regardless of the situation.”

“The main thing that I'm really looking forward to, in going into the second World Cup pre-camp is the team. Building as a team working as a team playing the team, understanding each other learning from each other, and hopefully playing our first game while in camp.”

While the CommBank ParaMatildas will play their first international in Spain, this Thursday the team will play their first-ever match together as they take on Hills United at Valentines Sports Park with kick-off at 7 pm. 

Friday will then see the 10 player Women’s World Cup squad announced with players and staff departing for Salou, Spain to join the Pararoos on Friday night. 

Australia will take on the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and the United States in history-making the first IFCPF Women’s World Cup in Spain from 11 – 18 May 2022. 

CommBank Matildas defender Matilda Mason
CommBank Matildas defender Matilda Mason during April camp (Photo: Ann Odong / Football Australia)

The top four nations from the group phase will then face off for the medals with the top two playing for the championship while the third and fourth-placed teams will battle for the bronze medal.  All of Australia’s matches will be played at Futbol Salou Field 8. 

The CommBank ParaMatildas games are set to be broadcast on the My Football YouTube channel, while tournament match scheduling and results can be accessed here.


 

COMMBANK PARAMATILDAS | GROUP MATCH SCHEDULE

Australia v the Netherlands
Date: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AEST

Australia v Japan
Date: Friday, 13 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 9.45am CEST / 5.45pm AEST

Australia v Spain
Date: Saturday, 14 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AEST

Australia v United States of America
Date: Sunday, 15 May 2022
Venue: Futbol Salou Field 8
Kick Off: 12.45pm CEST / 8.45pm AEST