The Home of the Matildas in Melbourne will play host to the country’s brightest female footballers for the 2024 National Youth Championships Girls’ tournament this July.
Taking place over six days from 3 – 8 July, the 2024 National Youth Championships Girls’ tournament for the Under 15 and Under 16 age groups will be held at the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University, Bundoora.
The Home of the Matildas is a fitting location to hold the 2024 National Youth Championships Girls’ tournament, where the elite football facility will welcome up to 24 teams featuring the best emerging talent from across Australia.
The National Youth Championships are the flagship youth event in the Australian football calendar, with teams from Football Australia's nine State and Territory Member Federations competing not only to claim the coveted national title, but to impress attending national team technical staff.
Embedded within Football Australia's talent identification scheme, the National Youth Championships serves as a crucial stepping-stone for young players with many of today's CommBank Matildas tracing their beginnings to the tournament.
Players like Mackenzie Arnold (Football QLD), Ellie Carpenter (Football NSW), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Football VIC), Caitlin Foord (Football NSW), Sam Kerr (Football West), Hayley Raso (Football QLD) and Cortnee Vine (Football QLD) have all progressed through the National Youth Championships pathway just to name a few.
The annual National Youth Championships not only provide an opportunity for aspiring young players to showcase their skills, but also coaches, officials and technical staff a chance to learn and grow in their respective fields.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said: “Through the significant investment of the Victorian Government ahead of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Home of the Matildas is one of the best football specific venues in Australia and I cannot think of a more suited facility to host this tournament showing the future of women’s football.
“We have seen large growth in women’s football in Australia over recent years and the National Youth Championships provide an amazing opportunity to unearth the next generation of players who will represent our national teams at both youth and senior level.
“We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the Victorian Government and their tourism and events agency, Visit Victoria for their ongoing support of Australian football and our elite pathways,” concluded James Johnson.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “We're proud to support women's football, from grassroots to the elite, and look forward to hosting teams from around the country right here in Victoria – the sports capital of Australia.”
"Events like this provide pathways for our star players of the future, and our investment in the Home of the Matildas will help bring out the best from our nation’s young athletes."
2024 National Youth Championships - Girls
Venue: Home of the Matildas, Bundoora, Victoria
Dates: 3 – 8 July 2024
Fixtures and further information will be released in the coming months.
