Australia women's national under-23 soccer team
| Nickname | U23 Matildas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Australia | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | AFF (Southeast Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Joe Palatsides | ||
| FIFA code | AUS | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
| Philippines 1–0 Australia U23 (Manila, Philippines, 4 July 2022) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Australia U23 9–0 Timor-Leste (Phú Thọ, Vietnam, 13 August 2025) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Sweden U23 3–0 Australia U23 (Sweden, 29 May 2024) Germany U23 3–0 Australia U23 (Sweden, 1 June 2024) | |||
| ASEAN Women's Championship | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2022) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2025) | ||
| Website | www | ||
The Australia women's national under-23 soccer team represents Australia in international under-23 soccer and at the ASEAN Women's Championship. The team was established in mid-2022 and is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is the U23 Matildas.
History
In mid-2022, Football Australia established the first-ever Australia women's national under-23 soccer team (U23 Matildas) to represent Australia in under-23 matches, including in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Senior women's assistant coach, Melissa Andreatta was appointed as inaugural under-23 Head Coach and Leah Blayney as Assistant Coach.[1][2][3] In September 2019, the Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (Young Matildas) coach, Blayney had managed a squad to compete at the 2020 AFC U-23 Women's Championship.[4]
Andreatta named a 28-player final squad for the 2022 AFF Women's Championship held from 4 to 17 July in the Philippines – against ASEAN senior national women's teams.[1] Australia U23, captained by defender Charlotte Grant, were placed in Group A and their first match was a 1–0 defeat by the hosts, Philippines.[5] The hosts were coached by former senior Australian women's coach, Alen Stajcic.[2] Attacking midfielder, Amy Sayer kicked their first goal for the tournament during their second match in a 1–1 draw with Thailand.[6] In their third game Sayer scored all four goals in the team's first ever win – against Indonesia.[7] In the match against Malaysia, midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby scored a hat trick.[1][8] U23 Matildas finished third in their group.
Andreatta formed a 24-player squad for a two-game friendly series held in Varese, Italy in September 2023, where Australia U23 played against AC Milan Women and then Scotland U23.[9] The next U23 Matildas squad contested the Four Nations invitational under-23 tournament held in Växjö, Sweden from 30 May to 4 June 2024.[10][11] Australia, captained by midfielder Laura Hughes, lost against hosts, Sweden and visitors Germany, but won against visitors Poland.[12][13] For that win, U23 Matildas came back from 2–0 down to equalise at 2–2, with the result determined by a penalty shoot-out, which Australia U23 won 5–3.[13] Andreatta was appointed head coach of Scotland's senior women's team in April 2025.[14]
Senior Matildas' assistant coach Joe Palatsides replaced Andreatta in June 2025 as the new Head Coach of the U23 Matildas. They competed at the 2025 ASEAN Women's Championship (successor to the 2022 AFF Women's Championship) in Group B in Phú Thọ, Vietnam, in August 2025.[15] Palatsides described his squad on 30 July, "Some of these players have already had a taste of senior football while others are knocking on the door, but no matter where they are on their journey, this kind of experience is incredibly valuable."[16] At the tournament the team finished second in their group after defeating defending champions Philippines 1–0 and fifth time appearing Timor-Leste 9–0. In the semi-final held in Haiphong they beat three-time champions and hosts, Vietnam 2–1 to advance to the tournament's final against two-time champions Myanmar who had beaten them 1–2 in the group stage.[17] Australia U23 were crowned champions after their 1–0 victory, with the winner struck by Holly Furphy from an assist by Aideen Keane.[17][18] Furphy was awarded Player of the Match for the final and Most Valuable Player for the tournament, while Alana Jančevski was Rising Star of the Tournament.[18][19]
Coaches
- Melissa Andreatta (2022–2025)[14]
- Joe Palatsides (2025–present)[15]
Players
Current squad
The following 22 players were named to the squad for the U-23 Australian Women's National Team at the 2025 ASEAN Women's Championship held in Vietnam on 6–19 August.[16] Abbey Lemon replaced Bryleeh Henry (ruled out due to sickness); Hayley Taylor-Young was also ruled out, but with no replacement.[16]
Caps and goals are current as of 19 August 2025, after match against Myanmar A.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Chloe Lincoln | 4 January 2005 | 6 | 0 | Brisbane Roar |
| 12 | GK | Sally James | 18 October 2002 | 1 | 0 | Canberra United |
| 18 | GK | Tahlia Franco | 29 June 2006 | 1 | 0 | Brisbane Roar |
| 2 | DF | Alana Cerne | 11 December 2002 | 4 | 1 | Essendon Royals |
| 4 | DF | Ella Tonkin | 14 December 2002 | 9 | 0 | Northern Tigers |
| 15 | DF | Tori Tumeth | 5 October 2004 | 4 | 0 | Unattached |
| 17 | DF | Sasha Grove | 30 December 2004 | 4 | 0 | Canberra United |
| 19 | DF | Grace Johnston | 7 April 2005 | 4 | 1 | Perth Glory |
| 21 | DF | Claudia Cicco | 27 August 2004 | 4 | 0 | APIA Leichhardt |
| 22 | DF | Abbey Lemon | 14 August 2002 | 3 | 0 | Sydney FC |
| 23 | DF | Naomi Chinnama | 13 May 2004 | 6 | 0 | Perth Glory |
| 5 | MF | Aideen Keane | 9 February 2002 | 5 | 2 | Melbourne City |
| 6 | MF | Isabel Gomez | 6 July 2002 | 7 | 0 | Northern Tigers |
| 8 | MF | Georgia Cassidy | 27 May 2005 | 3 | 0 | Perth Glory |
| 10 | MF | Sofia Sakalis | 11 July 2002 | 3 | 0 | Melbourne Victory |
| 13 | MF | Alana Jančevski | 13 March 2003 | 5 | 3 | Melbourne Victory |
| 14 | MF | Alicia Woods | 18 January 2004 | 5 | 0 | Brisbane Roar |
| 16 | MF | Amy Chessari | 19 May 2004 | 3 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| 20 | MF | Leticia McKenna | 7 August 2002 | 5 | 2 | Melbourne City |
| 7 | FW | Emilia Makris | 9 November 2004 | 3 | 1 | Adelaide United |
| 9 | FW | Holly Furphy | 29 April 2002 | 5 | 4 | Melbourne Victory |
| 11 | FW | Annalise Rasmussen | 22 May 2005 | 2 | 0 | Central Coast Mariners |
Recent call-ups
The following players were called up to the squad within the last 12 months and still remain eligible for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Hayley Taylor-Young | 25 February 2002 | 5 | 0 | Unattached | 2025 ASEAN Women's ChampionshipINJ |
| MF | Bryleeh Henry | 5 May 2003 | 3 | 0 | Melbourne City | 2025 ASEAN Women's ChampionshipINJ |
- Notes
- INJ Withdrew due to an injury.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2025
| 7 August 2025 ASEAN Championship GS | Myanmar A | 2–1 | Australia | Phú Thọ, Vietnam |
| 16:30 UTC+7 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Việt Trì Stadium Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) |
| 10 August 2025 ASEAN Championship GS | Australia | 1–0 | Philippines A | Phú Thọ, Vietnam |
| 19:30 UTC+7 |
|
Report | Stadium: Việt Trì Stadium Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) |
| 13 August 2025 ASEAN Championship GS | Australia | 9–0 | Timor-Leste A | Phú Thọ, Vietnam |
| 19:30 UTC+7 | Report | Stadium: Việt Trì Stadium Referee: Mu Mingxin (China) |
| 16 August 2025 ASEAN Championship SF | Vietnam A | 1–2 | Australia | Haiphong, Vietnam |
| 20:00 UTC+7 | Report | Stadium: Lạch Tray Stadium Attendance: 16,890 Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) |
| 19 August 2025 ASEAN Championship Final | Myanmar A | 0–1 | Australia | Haiphong, Vietnam |
| 19:30 UTC+7 | Report |
|
Stadium: Lạch Tray Stadium Attendance: 4,286 Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) |
Competitive record
ASEAN Women's Championship
| ASEAN Women's Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2004 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| 2007 | ||||||||
| 2008 | See Australia women's national soccer team | |||||||
| 2011 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| 2013 | See Australia under-20 team | |||||||
| 2015 | ||||||||
| 2016 | ||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||
| 2019 | Did not enter | |||||||
| 2022 | Group Stage | 5th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 4 |
| 2025 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 |
| Total | 2/2 | 1 title | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 7 |
Honours
Regional
- ASEAN Women's Championship
- Winners (1): 2025
See also
- Soccer in Australia
- Australia women's national soccer team
- Australia women's national under-20 soccer team
- Australia women's national under-17 soccer team
References
- ^ a b c "Andreatta confirms youthful final 28-Player Australian U-23 Squad For 2022 AFF Women's Championships". Football Australia. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b Yap, Kieran (3 July 2022). "Andreatta and Stajcic Speak Ahead of AFF Opener". impetusfootball.org. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ "Apostolakis and Gallagher named in Australia's preliminary squad for AFF Women's Championship". Western Sydney Wanderers. 10 June 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ TWG Staff. "Young Matildas' U23 Championship squad finalised". The Women's Game - Australia's Home of Women's Sport News. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "M3.pdf" (PDF). aseanfootball. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ Yap, Kieran (7 July 2022). "Matildas Clinch First Point Of AFF Championships". impetusfootball.org. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Australia Women U23 - Indonesia Women live score and H2H football match results". Scorebar. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "M21.pdf" (PDF). aseanfootball.org. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "U23 Matildas Squad selected ahead of two September matches". impetusfootball.org. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ "Andreatta confirms U-23 Women's National Team Four Nations Tournament squad". Football Australia. 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Australian U-23 Women's National Team Squad Update (22nd May)". Football Australia. 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Australia [U23 Women] National Team » Fixtures & Results 2024". worldfottball.net. 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b "AUS 3-2 POL | Australia - Poland | Summary". flashscore.com.au. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Football Australia thanks Melissa Andreatta". My Football. 9 April 2025. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Australias Next Gen Back at ASEAN Womens Champs". Mirage News. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Australia U-23 squad confirmed for ASEAN Women's Championships". Football Australia. 7 August 2025. Archived from the original on 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ a b Tan, Gabriel (20 August 2025). "How Australia U23 overcame slow start to be worthy ASEAN Women's Championship winners". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Australia U23 crowned 2025 ASEAN Women's Champions". Matildas. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "Australia win ASEAN Women's MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 after Furphy's second-half strike ends Myanmar's resistance". AFF. 19 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.