Twenty-three players have been named in the CommBank Matildas squad for the upcoming international with Mexico hosted at Toyota Field, San Antonio.
Australia will take on the recent Concacaf W Gold Cup semi-finalists on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 (local) / Wednesday, 10 April 2024 (AEST) in their first meeting in thirteen years.
The match will mark the first outing for the team since qualifying for the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games in February and will formally commence Australia’s preparations for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
CommBank Matildas’ Head Coach Tony Gustavsson said: “Following the achievement of Paris 2024™ qualification, our attention turns fully to ensuring the best preparation in terms of matches and training activity for the Olympics.”
“With our opponents revealed at the Olympic Draw this Thursday, our extremely challenging assignment over the coming months, and next two FIFA international windows, is to narrow down on the final 18 players that will provide the best chance for success when taking on those rivals in France.
“That those decisions will be difficult speaks to the genuine depth and competition for places that we have created over the past three years. Unfortunately, due to limited roster spots for the Olympics, that results in some very good players in strong form missing out on selection for this window and for the Olympics,” he concluded.
In a squad that features many familiar and consistent performers for club and country, it contains players from 16 different clubs, including three clubs from the A-League Women’s competition.
It also sees two changes from the squad that aided Australia in defeating Uzbekistan 13-0 on aggregate in Tashkent and Melbourne during the Round 3 Asian Qualifiers.
Defender Courtney Nevin has earned a recall fresh off assisting Leicester City WFC in securing a place in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals for the first time. A blistering six goals in her last five matches for Sydney FC, including three braces, has seen the in-form Cortnee Vine back in the reckoning after taking personal leave from February’s qualifiers.
Midfielder Chloe Logarzo (hip) has been ruled out through injury, while goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle), defender Charlie Rule, and forward Sam Kerr (knee) all continue rehab in their club environments.
“We have been consistent on the keys for squad selection which incorporates individual performances for club and in previous camps, combined with connection and chemistry. This 23-player squad looks to balance those areas as best as possible,” Gustavsson explained.
“The upcoming international against Mexico will see one eye on preparation mode against a quality opponent who recently defeated the USWNT last month, while also continuing to implement our evolving playing style ahead of what will be a very competitive Olympic tournament,” Gustavsson concluded.
The CommBank Matildas match against Mexico will air on Football Australia’s broadcast partner, Paramount ANZ.
Australia’s Paris 2024™ Olympic group stage opponents will be revealed tomorrow, Thursday, 21 March in Paris with the coverage commencing at 6.00am AEDT. The draw procedures and broadcast details are available at matildas.com.au.
MATCH DETAILS | APRIL 2024 FIFA WINDOW
Mexico v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2024 (local) / Wed, 10 April 2024 (AUS)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 10.00am (AEST)
Venue: Toyota Field, San Antonio, TX
Broadcast: Paramount ANZ
Tickets: ticketmaster.com
FINAL SQUAD | APRIL 2024 FIFA WINDOW
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS (GOALS) | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie ARNOLD | Goalkeeper | West Ham United FC | 46 (0) | Burleigh Heads SC / Football Queensland |
| Ellie CARPENTER (VC) | Back | Olympique Lyon | 74 (4) | Cowra and District JSC / Football New South Wales |
| Steph CATLEY (C) | Back | Arsenal WFC | 123 (5) | East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football Victoria |
| Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Midfielder | Arsenal WFC | 42 (0) | Bli Bli United FC / Football Queensland |
| Caitlin FOORD | Forward | Arsenal WFC | 121 (35) | Warilla Wanderers / Football New South Wales |
| Mary FOWLER | Midfielder | Manchester City WFC | 50 (15) | Leichhardt FC / Football Queensland |
| Katrina GORRY | Midfielder | West Ham United FC | 107 (17) | Mount Gravatt Hawks FC / Football Queensland |
| Charlotte GRANT | Back | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 23 (1) | Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia |
| Michelle HEYMAN | Forward | Canberra United FC | 63 (25) | Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW |
| Clare HUNT | Back | Paris Saint-Germain FC | 18 (0) | Grenfell Junior Soccer Club / Football New South Wales |
| Alanna KENNEDY | Back | Manchester City WFC | 121 (9) | Campbelltown Cobras SC / Football New South Wales |
| Aivi LUIK | Back | BK Häcken | 45 (1) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Teagan MICAH | Goalkeeper | Liverpool WFC | 17 (0) | Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football Queensland |
| Courtney NEVIN | Back | Leicester City WFC | 27 (0) | Oakville Ravens / Football New South Wales |
| Clare POLKINGHORNE | Back | Kristianstads DFF | 165 (16) | Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba Bulldogs / Football Queensland |
| Hayley RASO | Forward | Real Madrid Femenino | 84 (16) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Amy SAYER | Forward | Kristianstads DFF | 11 (1) | Northbridge FC / Football New South Wales |
| Kaitlyn TORPEY | Back | San Diego Wave FC | 2 (1) | Olympic FC / Football Queensland |
| Emily VAN EGMOND (VC) | Midfielder | San Diego Wave FC | 141 (31) | Dudley Redhead United FC / Northern NSW Football |
| Cortnee VINE | Forward | Sydney FC | 26 (3) | Peninsula Power FC / Football Queensland |
| Clare WHEELER | Midfielder | Everton WFC | 18 (1) | Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football |
| Jada WHYMAN | Goalkeeper | Sydney FC | 0 (0) | Tolland Football Club / Football New South Wales |
| Tameka YALLOP | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar FC | 121 (13) | Mudgeeraba SC / Football Queensland |
