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Australia women's national under-20 soccer team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Young Matildas)

Australia under-20
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameYoung Matildas
AssociationFootball Australia
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationAFF (South-East Asia)
Head coachAlex Epakis
FIFA codeAUS
First colours
Second colours
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Appearances5 (first in 2002)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2002, 2004)

The Australian women's national under-20 soccer team represents Australia in international women's under-20 soccer. The team 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 Young Matildas.

History

[edit]

The Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (later nicknamed Young Matildas) were established in the early 1990s.[1] Initially they were organised as an under-19 team,[2]: 16  which played a three-match series against New Zealand U19 in Australia in September 1991.[3] Another U19 squad toured Netherlands in 1998.[4] As a member of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) the Young Matildas participated in the 2002 OFC Women's Under 19 Qualifying Tournament, held in Tonga from 23 April to 3 May. After winning their group matches against Tonga (hosts) 0–16 and Cook Islands (0–15) they defeated Samoa (13–0) in the semi-final and New Zealand (0–6) in the final. With that victory Australia U19 qualified for the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship (predecessor to U-20 Women's World Cup).[2]: 16  That tournament was held in Canada in August–September,[2]: 16  and the Young Matildas finished fifth. This is the highest finishing place in a FIFA sanctioned world-wide competition of any Australian women's national soccer team until the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, when the senior Matildas reached fourth.[2]: 16 

In April 2004 with Adrian Santrac coaching, the team won the 2004 OFC Women's Under 19 Qualifying Tournament, where they defeated Solomon Islands 13–0,[5] and hosts Papua New Guinea 14–1,[6] to proceed to the U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand in November.[7] The Young Matildas were sent home after losing their quarterfinal 0–2 against United States.[7][8]

Young Matildas became a U-20 team when FIFA changed the upper age limit for its top women's age-grade competition from 19 to 20 effective in 2006. Also during that year all Australian international soccer teams switched from OFC to Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[9] Alistair Edwards, as coach, took the team to the 2006 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Malaysia in April,[10] where they finished third by defeating Japan 3–2 in the third place play-off.[11] Due to their performance, the Young Matildas qualified for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia.[12] At that tournament Australia U20 were eliminated in the group stage.[13]

As the third-placed team for the 2006 tournament, the Young Matildas automatically qualified for 2007 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Chongqing, China during October 2007.[14] With their 1–0 loss against Japan and a 2–1 loss against North Korea, the Australians were eliminated at the group stage and did not qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[14] The Young Matildas did not qualify for any U-19/U-20 world cup until 2022 when Leah Blayney coached the Australian squad in Costa Rica, where they were eliminated in the group stage.[15]

From 2013 to 2018, the Young Matildas represented their nation at successive AFF Women's Championships (later renamed ASEAN Women's Championships): a regional tournament for senior national teams in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Australia U20's best performances were finishing runners-up in both 2013 and 2018.[16][17] In the latter final, they lost 3–2 against three-time champion Thailand despite Mary Fowler's Player of the Match performance scoring both Australian goals - Fowler also won the Golden Boot for most goals (ten) in the tournament.[17][18]

Blayney coached the squad, which qualified for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, held in Uzbekistan in March.[19] The Young Matildas reached the finals, finishing third by defeating South Korea, 1–0.[19][20] New coach Alex Epakis oversaw their three victories in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers for Group C, held during August 2025 in Tajikistan.[21] Young Matildas reached the related tournament, which was held in April 2026 in Thailand.[21]

Results and fixtures

[edit]

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

[edit]
6 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers Australia  14–0  Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
22:00 UTC+5
Report Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Referee: Dong Fangyu (China)
8 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers Palestine  0–3  Australia Dushanbe, Tajikistan
19:00 UTC+5 Report
Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)

2026

[edit]
2 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS Australia  5–0  Chinese Taipei Pathum Thani, Thailand
16:00 UTC+7
Report Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium
Attendance: 75
Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan)
5 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS India  0–5  Australia Pathum Thani, Thailand
16:00 UTC+7 Report
Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium
Attendance: 66
Referee: Esra'a Al-Mbaidin (Jordan)
8 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS Japan  5–2  Australia Nonthaburi, Thailand
16:00 UTC+7
Report
Stadium: Nonthaburi Province Stadium
Referee: Rawdha Al-Mansoori (United Arab Emirates)
12 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup QF North Korea  3–0  Australia Pathum Thani, Thailand
16:00 UTC+7
Report Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium
Attendance: 137
Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan)

Coaching staff

[edit]
Position Name
Head coach Alex Epakis[22]

Former managers

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following 25 players were called up for friendlies against New Zealand on 20 and 23 May.[33]

Caps and goals are current as of 23 May 2026 after the match against New Zealand.


No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ilona Melegh (2008-07-02) 2 July 2008 (age 18) 9 0 Football Australia Adelaide United
18 1GK Georgia Ritchie (2008-03-11) 11 March 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Football Australia Newcastle Jets
2 2DF Amelia Bennett (2008-05-22) 22 May 2008 (age 18) 6 0 Football Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
3 2DF Tegan Bertolissio (2006-08-01) 1 August 2006 (age 19) 14 0 Football Australia Canberra United
21 2DF Isabela Hoyos (2008-05-23) 23 May 2008 (age 18) Football Australia Brisbane Roar
22 2DF Rubi Sullivan (2009-01-07) 7 January 2009 (age 17) 8 0 Football Australia Sydney FC
24 2DF Amy Barker (2008-06-17) 17 June 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Football Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
26 2DF Chelsea Biggs 0 0 Football Australia Melbourne City
4 3MF Poppy O'Keefe (2008-08-17) 17 August 2008 (age 17) 4 0 Football Australia Melbourne Victory
5 3MF Daisy Brown (2006-07-13) 13 July 2006 (age 20) 4 2 Football Australia Brisbane Roar
6 3MF Emma Dundas (2007-05-29) 29 May 2007 (age 19) 6 0 Football Australia Newcastle Jets
7 3MF Avaani Prakash (2006-12-13) 13 December 2006 (age 19) 16 4 Football Australia Central Coast Mariners
14 3MF Zara Kruger (2006-05-29) 29 May 2006 (age 20) 21 1 Football Australia Brisbane Roar
17 3MF Ischia Brooking (2008-11-23) 23 November 2008 (age 17) 1 0 Football Australia Perth Glory
20 3MF Clara Hoarau (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 (age 19) 1 0 French Football Federation Fleury 91
8 4FW Miriam Zumaya (2008-06-23) 23 June 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Football Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
9 4FW Skye Halmarick (2008-02-13) 13 February 2008 (age 18) 8 11 Football Australia Sydney FC
10 4FW Amelia Cassar (2008-02-09) 9 February 2008 (age 18) 6 0 Football Australia Sydney FC
11 4FW Tiana Fuller (2008-07-28) 28 July 2008 (age 18) 6 2 Football Australia Central Coast Mariners
13 4FW Peta Trimis (2006-05-18) 18 May 2006 (age 20) 18 7 Football Australia Central Coast Mariners
15 4FW Lily Punch (2008-09-25) 25 September 2008 (age 17) 1 0 Football Australia Brisbane Roar
16 4FW Allyssa Ng-Saad (2008-08-12) 12 August 2008 (age 17) 0 0 Football Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
19 4FW Talia Younis (2008-10-26) 26 October 2008 (age 17) 5 0 Football Australia Western Sydney Wanderers
23 4FW Sienna Dale (2007-04-19) 19 April 2007 (age 19) 3 0 Football Australia Canberra United
25 4FW Eliza Familton (2008-01-17) 17 January 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Football Australia Central Coast Mariners
4FW Sienna Saveska (2006-09-25) 25 September 2006 (age 19) 3 3 Football Australia Melbourne Victory

Recent call-ups

[edit]

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
GK Jasmine Black (2006-05-03) 3 May 2006 (age 20) 1 0 United States George Washington Revolutionaries 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
GK Sofia Fante (2008-03-02) 2 March 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Australia Sydney FC v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
DF Alexia Apostolakis (2006-05-16) 16 May 2006 (age 20) 25 1 Unattached 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
DF India Breier (2006-04-30) 30 April 2006 (age 20) 3 1 Australia Newcastle Jets 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
DF Amali Kinsella (2006-12-01) 1 December 2006 (age 19) 2 0 Australia Brisbane Roar 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
MF Shelby McMahon (2008-05-13) 13 May 2008 (age 18) 3 0 Australia Melbourne City 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
MF Claire Adams (2006-08-26) 26 August 2006 (age 19) 0 0 Australia Newcastle Jets v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
MF Madeleine Caspers (2007-03-15) 15 March 2007 (age 19) 6 1 Australia Sydney University v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
MF Daniela Galic (2006-06-17) 17 June 2006 (age 20) 19 6 Sweden Vittsjö GIK v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
MF Sian Dewey (2007-06-09) 9 June 2007 (age 19) 1 0 Australia Adelaide United 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
FW Danella Butrus (2007-02-13) 13 February 2007 (age 19) 4 1 Australia Melbourne City 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
FW Alexis Collins (2008-03-10) 10 March 2008 (age 18) 0 0 Australia Newcastle Jets 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
FW Caley Tallon-Henniker (2006-02-17) 17 February 2006 (age 20) 2 0 Australia Sydney FC 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
FW Josie Allan (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 (age 20) 0 0 Australia Newcastle Jets v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
FW Grace Kuilamu (2007-03-13) 13 March 2007 (age 19) 0 0 Australia Brisbane Roar v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
FW Kiera Meyers (2007-06-22) 22 June 2007 (age 19) 0 0 Australia Brisbane Roar v.  South Korea, 30 November 2025
FW Milly Boughton (2006-02-03) 3 February 2006 (age 20) 8 0 Scotland Hibernian 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
FW Amber Luchtmeijer (2007-02-26) 26 February 2007 (age 19) 5 2 Australia Sydney FC 2026 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
Notes
  • PRE Preliminary squad / on stand-by.
  • INJ Withdrew due to injury

Competitive record

[edit]

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

[edit]
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
Canada 2002Quarter-finals411289
Thailand 2004410368
Russia 2006Group stage311143
Chile 2008Did not qualify
Germany 2010
Japan 2012
Canada 2014
Papua New Guinea 2016
France 2018
Costa Rica 2022Group stage310236
Colombia 2024300306
Poland 2026Did not qualify
Total5/121742112132

OFC U-20 Women's qualifying tournament

[edit]
OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Tonga 2002Winners1st4400450
Papua New Guinea 2004Winners1st2200271
Total2/22 Titles6600721

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

[edit]
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualification
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
India 2002Did not enterNo qualification
China 2004
Malaysia 2006Third place3rd54012962200122
China 2007Group stage5th310234automatically qualified
China 20093111634301282
Vietnam 2011Fifth place5th5104712automatically qualified
China 20135104612automatically qualified
China 2015Group stage5th3102343300280
China 2017Fourth place4th52038112200231
Thailand 201952036226600413
Uzbekistan 2022Competition cancelled
Uzbekistan 2024Third place3rd5401965500300
Thailand 2026Quarter-finals5th42021283300200
Total:10/12Third place3rd431912389882524011828

ASEAN Women's Championship

[edit]
ASEAN Women's Championship record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Vietnam 2004 Did not enter
Vietnam 2006
Myanmar 2007
Vietnam 2008 See Australia women's national soccer team
Laos 2011 Did not enter
Vietnam 2012
Myanmar 2013 Runners-up2nd6420125
Vietnam 2015 Third place3rd5401154
Myanmar 2016 Fourth place4th5212264
Indonesia 2018 Runners-up2nd6402369
Thailand 2019Did not enter
Philippines 2022See Australia women's national under-23 soccer team
Vietnam 2025
Total4/120 titles2214358922

ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship

[edit]
ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Indonesia 2022 See Australia women's national under-17 soccer team
Indonesia 2023 Did not enter
Vietnam 2025
Total0/00000000

Honours

[edit]

OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

ASEAN Women's Championship

PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Womens U20s". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Stell, Marion (2004). Soccer. Girls in Sport. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-1426-0.
  3. ↑ Cooke, Graham (8 September 1991). "Rogic forces way back into Metro's". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 602. p. 20. Retrieved 15 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ Cohen, Brandon (25 June 2004). "Sport Karp selected for Olympics". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 110, no. 39. New South Wales, Australia. p. 24. Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Young Matildas outclass Solomon Islands - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 22 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Australia books ticket to Thailand - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Associated Press (AP) (22 November 2004). "Matildas out of U19 world champs". news.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press (AAP). Archived from the original on 23 November 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Thailand 2004 - USA 2:0 (0:0) Australia - Overview". FIFA.com. 21 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "Timeline of Australian Football". migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2006". rsssf.org. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Schedule & Results". the-afc.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Young Matildas". Football Australia. August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Results". Football Australia. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  14. 1 2 Roman, Todd; King, Ian (17 April 2014). "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™". fifa.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "The invited team for the regional competition clinched the AFF title after a beating Australia 5-3 on penalties". goal.com. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  17. 1 2 "ASEAN Football Federation Knock-out Stage Match Summary M24: THA (W) vs AUS U20 (W)" (PDF). aseanfootball.org. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  18. ↑ TWG staff (18 July 2018). "Teenager Mary Fowler comes into Matildas squad". The Women's Game (TWG). Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. 1 2 "Watch CommBank Young Matildas vs Korea Republic at AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2024". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "Young Matildas Clinch U20 Asian Cup Bronze, Beat Korea 1-0". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. 1 2 Woods, Julia (11 August 2025). "The CommBank Young Matildas secure spot in the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ after a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 21 September 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. 1 2 "Football Australia Announces New Head Coaches for U-20 and U-17 Women's National Team as Part of 'Team of Coaches' Initiative | Football Australia". www.footballaustralia.com.au. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  23. ↑ "Young Matildas and NSWIS Opening Day Victors". Matildas. 5 August 2001. Archived from the original on 13 November 2003. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "Alistair Edwards scores FFA role". Football West. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (5 August 2009). "Young Matildas pelted". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "Official Home of Asian Football". the-afc.com. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ↑ TWG Staff (16 October 2013). "Young Matildas downed 2-1 by China". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ Staff writer (19 November 2014). "Ante Juric confident for Young Matildas' qualification campaign". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ↑ Staff writer (21 October 2016). "Young Matildas squad announced for AFC U-19 Qualifiers". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ↑ "Young Socceroos & Westfield Young Matildas squad updates". Western Sydney Wanderers FC. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ↑ "Football Australia thanks Leah Blayney". Football Australia. 5 January 2025. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  32. ↑ "CommBank Young Matildas open PacificAus Four Nations Tournament with a victory". Football Australia. 19 February 2025. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  33. ↑ Woods, Julia (8 May 2026). "CommBank Young Matildas Squad confirmed for a two-match series against New Zealand at the AIS, Canberra". Matildas. Football Australia.
[edit]
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